COURTING ONE

Newly Installed Drug Court Seeks To Aid In Client Recovery

Craig -- The principal organizers of the long-awaited and newly
installed Moffat County Drug Court agree on what would constitute a
success: one client kicking a drug habit and turning around a life
once on the brink of a prison sentence.

"One person," said Jessie Cramer, a Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse
board member and Drug Court committee representative. "That would
mean a lot to me, and it would to their family and their children."

"Just one," said Michael O'Hara, chief judge of the 14th Judicial
District and Drug Court committee member and presiding judge, "is
going to make this a success."

After years of planning, research and consideration, Moffat County
launched its Drug Court, a program considered a "work in progress,"
Jan. 15. Four clients -- three women and one man -- have signed
contracts with the specialized court designed to handle cases
involving offenders with drug dependencies.

With a mission of breaking the cycle of addiction, Drug Court
combines the judiciary, prosecution, law enforcement, probation and
treatment communities.

Drug Court is a voluntary program for defendants with drug
dependencies facing felony probation revocation. It requires
mandatory drug testing, employment, court appearances and treatment,
among other requirements.

The penalty for noncompliance could be prison.

"They have a pretty big carrot in front of them to succeed," O'Hara said.

The fifth Drug Court session was Tuesday. Two women -- a third
currently is undergoing treatment in Grand Junction -- and a man
appeared before the judge.

Results of the program, still in its infancy, are mixed. However, one
of the women, a 28-year-old, has been successful in complying with
all requirements. In that respect, the Drug Court is on pace to meet
at least its minimum goal for success.

The 28-year-old is an example thus far of the success Drug Court
hopes to have as it expands in coming years to work with more clients.

"You've been in the program since Jan. 15 and haven't had any
significant problems," O'Hara told the woman, who replied to the
judge that she is benefiting from treatment and is determined to succeed.

"Just (you) succeeding is inspiration for the other members, and it's
inspiration for us, too," the judge said. "If you ever need anything,
let these folks know. Let us help you help yourself."

Another client, a 21-year-old woman with a methamphetamine addiction,
hasn't been as successful.

Her past two appearances have been marred by setbacks -- she has
tested positive for marijuana and alcohol use.

Not all has been bleak for the 21-year-old -- she has found a job and
has gone two-plus months without using methamphetamine -- but there
are consequences for her latest, failed test.

O'Hara commended her run of being meth-free, but warned her against
replacing the highly addictive narcotic with other substances.

"That (sobriety) isn't going to stay week after week if that stuff
keeps happening," O'Hara said. The consequence for the failed test is
96 hours in jail, a punishment O'Hara agrees to allow the woman to
serve around her employment schedule.

"I do want to drive home the point ... I'm not going to work around
your schedule again. ... I hand it to you for coming back. You're
still worth the investment, still worth the risk to us."

But ...

"That's the last time I'm going to give you that opportunity. Next
time, you should bring your toothbrush, as they say."

The movement for Moffat County's Drug Court began in 2005 when the
local group, Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse, approached the courts
and law enforcement with the idea as an answer to a growing area drug epidemic.

While exploring the idea, O'Hara said he found law enforcement and
prosecutors warm to installing a drug court. The principal players in
the Drug Court agreed that the past philosophy of "lock them up and
send them away" wasn't working, O'Hara said.

"We were just seeing the same people over and over again," he said,
"with no real success stories."

Two of Moffat County's top law enforcement officials -- Craig Police
Chief Walt Vanatta and Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz -- endorse the program.

"The goal is at first to plug people in at an early enough stage
where they can get their life turned around and become a productive
member of society," Vanatta said. "Even if you save two of four,
that's progress."

"One hundred percent, I support the Drug Court," Jantz said. "I think
we need alternatives. Not everyone responds to the same stimulus in
the same way."

A federal grant secured funds for a weeklong drug court training
session in September 2006 in Los Angeles.

The Drug Court was launched at the beginning of the year with the
understanding that, initially, it was a test balloon of sorts.

"We knew there would be things we would have to adjust over time, but
we started it," O'Hara said.

The judge said the tentative idea is to use the Drug Court as an
"experiment" in Moffat County, iron out the kinks and eventually
expand it to the other two judicial district counties -- Routt and Grand.

A 15-member committee -- including O'Hara, 14th Judicial District
chief probation officer Dennis Martinez and probation supervisor
Annette Norton, Vanatta, 14th Judicial District Attorney Bonnie
Roesink and others -- oversee the Drug Court.

The committee meets every quarter, and Drug Court takes place every other week.

Not just any defendant can be involved in the Drug Court program.

The probation department brings Drug Court candidates to the District
Attorney's Office, which makes the decision whether to allow them
into the program. Violent offenders are barred from entering.

And while many support Drug Court, not everyone is on board. The 14th
Judicial District Public Defender's Office, for instance, has chosen
not to participate.

Sheryl Uhlmann, deputy state public defender, could not be reached for comment.

Admittedly, O'Hara said the drug court comes with some hitches for
defense attorneys, most notably the forfeiture of some due process rights.

As a former defense attorney, the judge said he understands the
public defender's apprehension -- "you're taught you don't waive your
client's rights" -- but that he hopes after the Drug Court is better
established the office comes on board.

Drug Court clients aren't without representation, however. Three area
attorneys -- David Waite, Erick Nordstrom and Heather Cannon -- have
agreed to represent clients pro bono, if needed.

For organizers, the risk of Drug Court is minimal and the reward substantial.

"A lot of people have time in this, and we want to make it work,"
O'Hara said. "We're here to try and help. If it doesn't work, we
didn't lose much. We lost a little time, that's all. We just hope
there is a better way."