ALTERNATIVES SOUGHT FOR DRUG COURTS

Legal secretary Kay Heil begged state lawmakers Friday to increase parole
supervision fees by $10 to prevent the closing of 11 drug courts that lost
federal funding.

Standing in a courtroom that handles 1,500 drug cases a year, Heil, 50,
said she got hooked on heroin in 1996 after a divorce accompanied by severe
headaches.

Her low point came in March 1997 when a police officer pulled her over for
making an illegal turn, and found cocaine and heroin.

Instead of going to prison, she attended Denver drug court, where she
received supervision and help, and a chance to go back to college where she
got a degree in psychology.

"I've been sober now for more than four years," she said, tears welling in
her eyes.

Sen. Doug Linkhart, D-Denver, has introduced Senate Bill 18, which would
increase probation supervision fees from $35 to $45 to raise money to keep
the courts in operation.

The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on
Wednesday.

"Sending drug offenders through a revolving door in the corrections
department does not change habits," Linkhart said.

Last year, there were 1,502 cases filed in Denver's drug court, including
728 for crack cocaine, 237 for cocaine, 142 for methamphetamines, 113 for
marijuana, 98 for heroin and 184 for other drug crimes.

Of that number, 107 were sent to prison for violating the terms of their
probation.

In 1995, 79 percent of those convicted of drug charges went to prison and
18 percent to drug court. Last year, 14 percent went to prison and 67
percent graduated from drug court. About a quarter of all cases in Denver
involve drugs.

Statewide, the number of drug offenders who end up in prison after being
given a second chance is 40 percent. In Denver, that number has been
reduced to 10 percent, according to figures compiled by the Denver district
attorney's office and Drug Court coordinator.

Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter said judges still send people to
prison for drug crimes, especially drug dealers.

"They are not a panacea for America's drug problem. They are the best way
for the criminal justice system to manage and change behavior," Ritter said.

The courts are located around the state in Denver, El Paso, Larimer,
Montrose, Gunnison, Delta, Canon City, Durango and Cortez, with separate
courts for juveniles in Denver and Larimer counties.