DOUGLAS TO BE PART OF RURAL DRUG COURT

A new era for Douglas County's drug offenders begins this fall.

A drug court, which judges say has succeeded in urban areas, will debut
in rural Nevada in September.

District Judge David Gamble said the new program will emphasize
treatment and feature frequent drug tests and allow defendants to
regularly appear before a judge to gauge their progress.

If the program had been in effect last year, 80 Douglas County drug
offenders would have qualified.

Defendants are placed in the program once an agreement is reached
between the defense and the prosecution for drug possession violations.

If a defendant completes drug court, which takes 12 months if there are
no violations, no offense appears on the person's record.

Persons accused of serious trafficking offenses will not qualify for the
program.

However, someone accused of a minor distribution charge could be placed
in drug court if it's a first offense, Gamble said.

The program's two primary purposes are to relieve prison overcrowding
and provide treatment to help drug addicts turn their lives around.

The method appears to have proven nationwide that people can quit using
and actually be changed into a non drug user, Gamble said.

"It's had more success than anything we've devised," he said.

During the program, a judge sees the defendant regularly.

"They have to appear in front of the court over and over," he said.
"They get punished for bad results and praised for good results.

"A big component of the program is treatment," Gamble said.

Also, drug court participants are frequently tested for drugs.

Gamble doesn't see drug courts as a panacea for Douglas County's biggest
drug problem, methamphetamine, but is optimistic.

"(Drug courts) seem to have a much higher degree of success than most
any modality that we have," he said.

Gamble doesn't want residents to think the new program is simply
"slapping people on the hand."

Gamble said violators failing drug tests will be sent directly to jail
for short, multiple-day stints.

"There's instant consequences," he said. "They gradually earn more
freedom and less control."

The Northern Nevada program will cover multiple rural districts,
including Carson City, Lyon, Storey and Churchill counties.

Lyon County District Judge Archie Blake will handle cases in Douglas
County, Carson City and Storey counties because his county recently got
a third judge. The other counties each have two judges, Gamble said.

The judges worked together to implement the program, he said.

"We cut through the bureaucracy."

Dina Salvucci, deputy district attorney for Douglas County, said details
on the program are not final.

Reno-based Choices Unlimited will provide counseling and testing in
conjunction with local agencies, Salvucci said.

"We can't expect our drug addicts to drive to Reno," she said.

Often, drug offenders are prohibited from driving.

Salvucci said much of the program's funding will be provided by
participants. Additional funding will come from government grants.

"Hopefully, between the two, it'll be enough to cover the expense of
running a drug court," she said.

"Drug court is intended to cure, if that's the right word, (addicts),"
she said. "We want them to get jobs, be productive, taxpaying citizens.
Before we send you to prison, we'll give you one last shot."