SPECIAL SENTENCING PROGRAM MAY BE EXPANDED

State Approves Additional Funding

County may expand sentencing program

An alternative sentencing program in Jefferson County could be expanded,
now that the state has approved funding for a full-time drug court
commissioner in the county.

The Legislature approved funding for the program last month.

Judge Timothy Patterson, who has presided over the drug court since the
county started the alternative sentencing program in January 2002, says
officials hope a full-time commissioner will allow them to expand the
effort to include juvenile and family drug courts to address young
offenders and situations in which parents have lost custody of their
children because of drug or alcohol problems.

Patterson says a slightly altered version of the program also could be used
to handle felony DWI offenders.

"There's an infinite amount of possibilities," Patterson said. "This is
just one step forward."

The concept of an alternative drug court was introduced in Missouri with a
program in Kansas City in 1993, says Ann Wilson, alcohol and drug abuse
coordinator for the state court administrator's office. There are now 58
adult, juvenile and family drug-court programs operating in the state,
including two programs that target DWI offenders in St. Charles and Greene
counties.

Wilson says more than 2,200 people have graduated from drug court programs
across the state since their inception. She says only about 6 percent have
committed new crimes.

"Prosecutors aren't seeing the same people, and neither are the judges,"
Wilson said. "Law enforcement is getting behind the program now because
they're seeing changes on the street. They're not always arresting the same
people."

The programs use a combination of intense supervision, treatment, praise
and counseling to help offenders turn their lives around. Those who
successfully complete the programs walk away drug-free without a record.
Those who stumble face criminal prosecution.

"Drug courts are not the easy way out," Wilson says. "They really are
tougher than probation and tougher than prison. There're some guys that
would rather opt for prison than the drug court because they'd have to get
clean."

In the case of DWI drug courts, Wilson says DWI offenders still receive a
conviction but can avoid prison and hope to stay sober once they complete
the program.

So far, three people have graduated from Jefferson County's drug court
program. Eight are under supervision. Participants in the 12-15 month
program have regular drug screenings and face jail time if they fail a drug
test.

The punishment is swift and certain because participants are required to
meet regularly with counselors and probation officers and the judges or
commissioners who have their cases.

The supervision is more intense than standard probation. Patterson says
that is one of the reasons the program works.

"Many of these people come from dysfunctional homes where there's never
been a consistent authority figure," Patterson said. "They've never had
someone who says, 'If you do something good, I'll reward you, and if you do
something bad, I'll punish you,' and is consistent with the rewards and
punishment."

For participants, finding that the drug court team is interested in them as
a person often is a revelation.

"Somewhere along the line, they get it," Patterson said. "They realize that
they have a problem and need help with some of the choices they're making."