TIOGA REVIEWS BENEFITS OF DRUG COURT

OWEGO -- People charged with nonviolent crimes who are addicted to
drugs or alcohol may be sentenced to an intensive treatment program
instead of jail if the Tioga County Legislature approves a drug court
program.

Tioga officials listened Thursday to a panel presentation about the
social and cost benefits of running a county drug treatment court.
The presentation was made by members of the Oswego County Drug
Treatment Court in the auditorium of Tioga's administration building
at 56 Main St.

Drug treatment court is a voluntary program, Oswego County Judge
James McCarthy said. To enroll in Oswego's program, defendants, who
must be at least 16 years old, must plead guilty to a criminal charge
and sign a contract that states the sentence that will be imposed if
the defendant does not complete the program.

Each week, participants attend several sessions with their treatment
provider. They also meet regularly with the drug treatment court
judge and undergo random drug tests. People who violate their
treatment program receive immediate sanctions, such as a weekend in
jail or community service hours. Some are terminated from the program
and are ordered to serve their original sentence in jail.

People in drug court programs often go to school or work and start
paying taxes and child support, McCarthy said. He said the drug
treatment court reduces the number of repeat offenders, saves
taxpayers' money by not jailing defendants and increases public
safety by reducing the number of people who steal or commit other
crimes to get drugs.

Dave Guyer, Oswego's program coordinator, said the county has not
analyzed the cost benefits of its program. But he said no extra staff
members have been hired for it. The county's drug treatment court
program is funded by a federal grant.

Guyer said about 50 people are in Oswego's treatment program. He said
the county program includes misdemeanor and felony offenders.

The original charge against a defendant usually is reduced or
dismissed after completion of the program, McCarthy said. He said the
original plea will remain in effect if the defendant does not
complete the program.

Tioga County Judge Vincent Sgueglia, who attended a training program
about drug courts in January, said he likes the immediacy of the
program. Participants waive their right to a hearing, which means
they get help faster, he said.

Tioga Legislature Chairman Peter L. Ward, R-7th District, said he
does not know when the county will make a decision about starting a
drug treatment court. He said legislators and the county's Criminal
Justice Advisory Council are collecting information and examining the
costs and benefits of the program.