NEW PROGRAM FOCUSES ON DRUG USERS

It's An Alternative to Jail Time for Some Offenders

GAYLORD -- Court officials intend to launch a program in Otsego
County to focus on rehabilitating hard-drug users.

The 46th Circuit Court in January will begin handling certain
criminal cases in a separate drug court that is designed to keep
hard-drug users clean and sober and obeying the law, said Rudi Edel,
court administrator.

"People would be in the drug court program for 18 months, often with
weekly meetings with officials," he said.

The court is paying for the new program with existing funds and will
seek grant dollars for drug testing, Edel said. Last year, about 25
percent of all drug cases in Otsego County involved hard drugs --
cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine and prescription narcotics, he
said.

Drug court participants must attend frequent hearings with a judge,
complete treatment sessions and counseling, submit to random drug and
alcohol screenings and comply with all court orders and probation
rules.

The program will serve as an alternative to jail time for nonviolent
offenders with serious drug habits, said Brendan Curran, assistant
prosecuting attorney.

"If it's successful, it seems to me it will reduce crime and help
produce healthy, productive citizens," he said.

Offenders who belong to a "needle drug sub-culture" will be targeted
first, Curran said.

"There are too many dead bodies in our community from drug overdoses.
We want to figure out who needs the help and get it to them," he said.

Otsego County death records show five accidental overdose deaths over
the last two years.

Prosecutors will determine who enters the drug court program and
Curran said participants don't necessarily need active drug
possession charges to be included. Many related crimes will be
considered, including larcenies and prescription fraud charges.

Nancy Morgridge of Catholic Human Services said that the agency will
provide treatment for offenders referred to the drug court. Each
person will receive a specialized program for their needs, including
relapse prevention counseling, she said.

"It gives them more of an incentive to work through their addiction,"
Morgridge said.

Offenders will receive either outpatient or residential treatment in
the pilot program for the court, which also includes Crawford and
Kalkaska counties. Officials there will receive a progress report on
the new drug court after six months, Edel said.