OFF DRUGS, OUT OF PRISON

As Robin De Jong watched her son graduate Wednesday afternoon, she
reflected on all the things he won't do.

Most importantly, Rick De Jong, 33, said he won't use drugs anymore, thanks
to his yearlong participation in county drug court. He also said he won't
lie, associate with his former drug buddies or break promises to his family.

"It's like my son is back," Robin said. "He's a person again."

Rick De Jong, who lives in Grover Beach, was one of nine people to graduate
from the county's first round of drug court - a program made possible by a
$384,000 federal grant. Over the last year, those probationers, all
convicted for felony drug use, went to regular substance abuse treatment
sessions, met weekly with a judge and were visited regularly by their
probation officers.

"When I first started it, I was totally against it," Rick De Jong said.
"But the longer I was clean, the better my life got."

Life got so much better, in fact, that De Jong, like most graduates,
probably will not return to his old ways.

"When these guys hit the streets, they have as much going for them as
possible," said Gary Joralemon, a supervising probation officer for the county.

Studies have shown that those released from prison often reoffend because
they have no place to live, no job and no support, Joralemon said.

"But when all those things are in place, their chance of reoffending goes
way way down, and it really puts the community at less risk."

Like others in the San Luis Obispo program, Rick De Jong was recommended
for drug court by a probation officer, then hand-picked by a judge.

"Anyone is eligible for drug court as long as he does not have a history of
violence or drug sales," Joralemon said.

After being picked for the program - which is not voluntary - the
probationers are assigned to one of the three drug court judges.

Some offenders are required to serve jail time, which is spent in a special
drug court unit that provides them with the daily treatment necessary for
recovery.

Once out of jail, they are visited regularly - but often unannounced - by a
probation officer. They also are required to attend nightly treatment sessions.

"Generally our approach is toward the disease of addiction, rather than a
particular drug," said Michael Bove, program supervisor for drug court.
"Primarily, what we're working through is helping them change the way that
they think."

Jon Dracup, an Arroyo Grande resident, said he could not have overcome his
drug addiction without the program.

"The obsession is gone," said the 45-year-old cabinet maker, "and I credit
it in part to this program."

The relationship the probationers develop with their assigned judge also
helps keep the participants on track.

"We give them that support, and they know we're watching and want them to
succeed," said Judge Christopher Money. "We're unfortunately there to
punish them if they don't succeed."

A participant's slip-up could mean additional community work hours, more
time in jail or expulsion from the program.

"We've had some failures," Money said, "but we've had more successes than
failures."

According to an American University study, the recidivism rate for drug
court participants is lower than for those who go through the traditional
court system. Additionally, retention in programs nationally is high.

Drug court was originally brought to this county two years ago by Money,
who was initially skeptical about the program.

"I had my doubts at first," he said. "I did not know why it was necessary
to handle cases this way. But after doing it for a while, I'm absolutely
convinced that it helps people overcome their addictions to illegal
substances."

After that original incarnation of the court, probation officials applied
for the $384,000 grant, which enabled the county to run the current program
for 18 months. The money was enough for two drug court probation officers,
supplies for drug testing and an intensive drug treatment program.

For the public, drug court means less money spent on each offender: The
program costs about $2,000 per person for the entire program, while one
year's incarceration in a California state prison is about $21,000.

Prison was a likely option for the probationers had they not been chosen
for the program, Joralemon said.

"They were exhibiting patterns of behavior that lead us to believe that, if
there hadn't been significant intervention, the chances of them going to
prison were relatively high," he said.

But funds for this round of drug court run out in December, and the county
is now scrambling to find additional sources.

"We have a full-time probation unit that seeks out funds," Joralemon said
of the department's efforts.

He added he is "optimistically hopeful" that funding from state sources
will come through. If not, the program could begin and end with the current
75 drug court participants.

Even if it does, the initial 18-month program was enough to change Rick De
Jong's life. His health and personal relations have improved. And the
muscular, goateed man has rediscovered an old passion he thought was long
forgotten because of his drug use: surfing.