COUNTY MIGHT SET UP DRUG COURTS

COMAL COUNTY -- Thirty-four out of 1,618 Driving While
Intoxicated/Driving Under the Influence misdemeanor violators had
their probation revoked during the past 12 months.

A total of 42 out of 1,035 of those convicted of misdemeanor
possession of marijuana or controlled substance had their probations
revoked during the same time period.

Although those 76 probationers who were revoked were headed to state
jail or would face some other punishment, there is hope that a hefty
percentage of the other 2,653 violators would become eligible for a
misdemeanor drug/DWI court in Guadalupe County.

With that hope in mind, County Attorney Elizabeth Murray-Kolb, County
Court-at-law No. 1 Judge Linda Jones, two Guadalupe County probation
officers and one counselor met last week with members of the Comal
County Bar Association to discuss both counties' plans to set up drug courts.

Comal County has very recently set up a felony drug court, and
Guadalupe County has operated a juvenile drug court, with Jones as
the designated judge, for the past three years, and plans to install
a misdemeanor drug court.

"By the time they (drug and DWI violators) get to the felony level,
they've been drinking and drugging for a long time. With misdemeanor
court we hope to catch them before they get to that stage," Murray-Kolb said.

"We're trying to get them when they're young and treat them before
they get so far advanced in their addiction, and stop the cycle," she said.

Attorneys, judges and other officials listened carefully as Ernie
Glenn, magistrate of Bexar County's felony drug court, explained how
that county set up and operated its felony drug court.

He explained several key components of a drug court, as laid out by
the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

According to information disseminated by the association, "drug
courts represent the coordinated efforts of the judiciary,
prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health,
social service and treatment communities to actively and forcefully
intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction and crime."

Drug courts can identify substance abusers and place them under
"strict court monitoring and community supervision, coupled with
effective, long-term treatment services."

Glenn said there was a learning curve when Bexar County established
its felony drug court three years ago.

"The easiest thing for me to do is to send people to jail. Did we
accomplish anything by doing that? No we didn't," Glenn said.

"Drug court is not about motions to revoke probation, that's the last
thing we do," he said.

He said just getting a drug offender started in a drug court program
is a major accomplishment.

When a person begins to see the benefits of participating in a drug
court program, their lives take a noticeable turn.

"You see a light turn on. They dress better, they go to work, they
smile when they come to court," Glenn said.

Glenn said it is important to follow one of the recommended
components, which is to maintain a non-adversarial approach.

"You promote public safety while protecting the defendant's due
process rights," Glenn said.

That means a defense attorney would have to take steps before a
defendant becomes a client to tell about the program and to get them
enrolled as soon as possible for a successful intervention.

It's also important to maintain some continuity on the bench in a
drug court, Glenn said.

"An ongoing judicial interaction with each participant is essential.
Having one judge that the people can bond with is the best approach," he said.

Another important component of a drug court program is to forge
community partnerships.

"They can be resources for you. If the community doesn't know what
you're doing they can't support you," Glenn said.

Judge Jones said that officials from both Comal and Guadalupe
counties will benefit through their collaboration on drug court programs.

"We will be able to network with neighboring counties and offer
encouragement with what they're doing. The main thing we may be able
to accomplish is to combine resources for training," Jones said.

"I see it as a long-term relationship. They may be dealing with
people from our county and vice versa. We're trying to find a
solution outside the box," she said.