Measuring progress, one success at a time
Thursday, May 25, 2006 3:27 PM PDT
Larry Meyer Argus Observer
VALE
May has been designated “National Drug Court Month” in Malheur County and across the nation, as drug courts celebrate the positive impact their programs have on local communities.
The month is also significant for team members of Malheur County's drug court as they celebrate and reflect on the results of rehabilitation for many.
Those team members filled the Malheur County Court chambers Wednesday for the signing of a special proclamation by members of the locally elected body.
Malheur County's drug court, which is called SAFE Court - “Stop Addiction ForEver” - began in January 2001. During the past five years, the court has celebrated the graduation of the 72 people, the births of eight drug-free children to its participants and the sobriety of countless participants and their families, Christine Mosier-Crysler, court coordinator, said.
The program accepts people who are non-violent and repeat drug and/or alcohol offenders, Mosier-Crysler said.
All of the participants have had repeated encounters with the criminal justice system because of their addictions. The program is voluntary and participants are in the treatment program for a minimum of 15 months or longer.
Mosier-Crysler said participants are required to complete a certain number of community service hours, but most do more than they are required.
“They want to give back to the community,” Pam Barton state courts administrator said.
Besides the Malheur County Circuit Courts, other partners in the drug court include Training and Employment Consortium, the law firm of Rader, Stoddard and Perez, Lifeways Behavioral Health, the Malheur County District Attorney's office, Malheur County Community Corrections, the Oregon Department of Human Service, Alcohol Recovery Center, the Ontario Police Department, the Malheur County Juvenile Department, and the Malheur County Sheriff's Office and the Malheur County Jail.
The group of five people expected to graduate from the drug court in June represent a diverse cross section of the area Circuit Judge Patricia Sullivan said.
“They come to us with a history of failure,” Sullivan said. “To see them succeed is really exciting.”
Another difference from most drug courts is the separate men's and women's programs. There are currently 19 people in each, Mosier-Crysler said.
Participants pay to go through the program, she said.
“It's a hardship,” she said. However, Mosier-Crysler said most participants are determined to make it through the program.
“There is always a need for treatment dollars,” she said. Drug court graduations are held on the second Thursday of every month if there are people who have completed the program.
Treatment courts statewide have shown a recidivism rate of 10 percent, which is nearly 50 percent lower than standard probation cases where offenders are told to seek treatment on their own.
No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:
And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.
Disgusting. "