News (Media Awareness Project) - US IN: Offenders Get New Hope In Drug Court |
| Title: | US IN: Offenders Get New Hope In Drug Court |
| Published On: | 2000-04-18 |
| Source: | Evansville Courier & Press (IN) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-04 21:30:25 |
OFFENDERS GET NEW HOPE IN DRUG COURT
Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman had been on the bench
just a few short months when he got his first dose of a case involving
drugs.
A 20-year-old man was facing a mandatory six-year sentence for
possession of cocaine.
"This was a young college student who was working," the judge
recalled.
"He had an internship job and was smart. He was addicted to cocaine
and was facing six years in prison for possession of cocaine within
1,000 feet of a school, but this was during the summer months.
"This was a kid with a lot of potential, but now he has an (Indiana
Department of Correction) history and no potential," Trockman added.
Trockman, who has been a judge for less than two years, is now
spearheading an effort to establish a drug court to help people who
show potential to escape from a life of drugs and crime.
By years end, Trockman hopes to establish an 18-month-pilot program.
The judge estimates it will cost about $95,000. Vanderburgh County
Prosecutor Stan Levco, along with Sheriff Brad Ellsworth and
Evansville Police Chief Marvin Guest, have voted to give Trockman
$25,000 from money seized in drug cases.
The pilot program, if successful, should help the county qualify for
federal funding to continue the drug court.
"In law enforcement," said Ellsworth, "we realize that drug abuse is
the root of most of our problems. We need money too, but we realize
there is a lot of need for treatment in this area."
Trockman hopes to get the additional funding from the correction
department, the Vanderburgh County Substance Abuse Council and
possibly the Vanderburgh County Council.
"I think this is worth trying," Levco said. "This is not going to be
the answer for everyone, but might be the answer for a few people."
The basic premise of a drug court is simple: Nonviolent offenders who
commit crimes as a direct result of substance abuse should be
separated from the normal judicial process and given an opportunity at
treatment and success.
If offenders finish the program, they can have their sentences
reduced.
The idea has previously been discussed, considering 25 percent of the
felonies filed in the county are drug offenses. Prosecutors say
countless other crimes stem from drug activity.
About 500 communities across the country have implemented drug courts,
and another 300 or so are working to develop them.
In recent weeks, Trockman has been discussing the idea of drug courts
with other Indiana judges, such as Judge Ken Scheibenberger of Allen
County, which has been operating a drug court for less than two years.
It employs four, full-time employees and serves an average of about
100 offenders.
Currently, a dozen Indiana counties either have a drug court or plan
to implement one.
Most drug courts operate as a deferral program, where offenders plead
guilty to a crime and complete a program in exchange for a dismissal
of charges.
Trockman, however, envisions Vanderburgh Countys program being a
little different.
"Because we already have the (Drug and Alcohol Deferral Service)
program, we thought, and the prosecutor agreed, that we shouldnt
offer another option for charges to be dismissed," he said.
Instead, the local drug court should serve about 25 people and offer
them a chance at a less-severe sentence if they complete the program.
"We want to target second- and third-time offenders with a serious
drug problem. They must have a problem that is readily apparent to
qualify."
Trockmans pilot program would mirror some of the other drug courts.
It would be designed for only nonviolent drug users, not drug dealers.
A person arrested for theft, for example, might qualify if it can be
determined the theft was connected to drug abuse.
"This is not something that is soft on crime, because it might be more
difficult for someone to complete the program than serve executed
(prison) time or go to the SAFE House," Trockman said.
People who qualify for drug court must immediately plead guilty to be
admitted into the program. At that point, the offender will be
required to appear before Trockman once a week and submit to drug
testing at least that often.
If the offender violates any rules, the person could be expelled from
the program to face the normal range of penalties for their crime.
However, drug court officials realize that relapse is part of the
treatment process.
"If a person relapses but does not reoffend, well try to keep them in
(the program)," the judge said.
Debbie Mowbray, the coordinator of human services at the SAFE House,
said she is "wholeheartedly, 1,000 percent, in support of drug courts."
"A person addicted needs to see the same people, and the same judge
needs to be assigned to the court to know if this person failed
treatment," Mowbray added.
Currently, the seven Superior Court judges rotate through the criminal
division. Offenders in drug courts will have access to community
resources, including treatment facilities, within days of the arrest
rather than six months to a year later.
Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman had been on the bench
just a few short months when he got his first dose of a case involving
drugs.
A 20-year-old man was facing a mandatory six-year sentence for
possession of cocaine.
"This was a young college student who was working," the judge
recalled.
"He had an internship job and was smart. He was addicted to cocaine
and was facing six years in prison for possession of cocaine within
1,000 feet of a school, but this was during the summer months.
"This was a kid with a lot of potential, but now he has an (Indiana
Department of Correction) history and no potential," Trockman added.
Trockman, who has been a judge for less than two years, is now
spearheading an effort to establish a drug court to help people who
show potential to escape from a life of drugs and crime.
By years end, Trockman hopes to establish an 18-month-pilot program.
The judge estimates it will cost about $95,000. Vanderburgh County
Prosecutor Stan Levco, along with Sheriff Brad Ellsworth and
Evansville Police Chief Marvin Guest, have voted to give Trockman
$25,000 from money seized in drug cases.
The pilot program, if successful, should help the county qualify for
federal funding to continue the drug court.
"In law enforcement," said Ellsworth, "we realize that drug abuse is
the root of most of our problems. We need money too, but we realize
there is a lot of need for treatment in this area."
Trockman hopes to get the additional funding from the correction
department, the Vanderburgh County Substance Abuse Council and
possibly the Vanderburgh County Council.
"I think this is worth trying," Levco said. "This is not going to be
the answer for everyone, but might be the answer for a few people."
The basic premise of a drug court is simple: Nonviolent offenders who
commit crimes as a direct result of substance abuse should be
separated from the normal judicial process and given an opportunity at
treatment and success.
If offenders finish the program, they can have their sentences
reduced.
The idea has previously been discussed, considering 25 percent of the
felonies filed in the county are drug offenses. Prosecutors say
countless other crimes stem from drug activity.
About 500 communities across the country have implemented drug courts,
and another 300 or so are working to develop them.
In recent weeks, Trockman has been discussing the idea of drug courts
with other Indiana judges, such as Judge Ken Scheibenberger of Allen
County, which has been operating a drug court for less than two years.
It employs four, full-time employees and serves an average of about
100 offenders.
Currently, a dozen Indiana counties either have a drug court or plan
to implement one.
Most drug courts operate as a deferral program, where offenders plead
guilty to a crime and complete a program in exchange for a dismissal
of charges.
Trockman, however, envisions Vanderburgh Countys program being a
little different.
"Because we already have the (Drug and Alcohol Deferral Service)
program, we thought, and the prosecutor agreed, that we shouldnt
offer another option for charges to be dismissed," he said.
Instead, the local drug court should serve about 25 people and offer
them a chance at a less-severe sentence if they complete the program.
"We want to target second- and third-time offenders with a serious
drug problem. They must have a problem that is readily apparent to
qualify."
Trockmans pilot program would mirror some of the other drug courts.
It would be designed for only nonviolent drug users, not drug dealers.
A person arrested for theft, for example, might qualify if it can be
determined the theft was connected to drug abuse.
"This is not something that is soft on crime, because it might be more
difficult for someone to complete the program than serve executed
(prison) time or go to the SAFE House," Trockman said.
People who qualify for drug court must immediately plead guilty to be
admitted into the program. At that point, the offender will be
required to appear before Trockman once a week and submit to drug
testing at least that often.
If the offender violates any rules, the person could be expelled from
the program to face the normal range of penalties for their crime.
However, drug court officials realize that relapse is part of the
treatment process.
"If a person relapses but does not reoffend, well try to keep them in
(the program)," the judge said.
Debbie Mowbray, the coordinator of human services at the SAFE House,
said she is "wholeheartedly, 1,000 percent, in support of drug courts."
"A person addicted needs to see the same people, and the same judge
needs to be assigned to the court to know if this person failed
treatment," Mowbray added.
Currently, the seven Superior Court judges rotate through the criminal
division. Offenders in drug courts will have access to community
resources, including treatment facilities, within days of the arrest
rather than six months to a year later.
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