CRIMINAL JUSTICE: To an addict,decriminalization of drugs is the worst
thing that could happen.

I am writing in response to your editorial,"New approach on
drugs"[Opinion,July,23],concerning the $400,000 federal grant to expand
drugcourt options in Orange County.

Your editorial omitted some recipients of those funds. Both central and
south drugcourts programs will receive additional funding as a result of
this grant.Additionally,the Orange County Department of Probation and the
Orange County Health Care Agency will receive funds to assist in processing
and monitoring the offenders participating in the program.

I have another concern that I feel I must also address.In your editorial
you suggested that drug court might be a solution in the absence of
legislation to decriminalize drugs. In my long history of dealing with the
drug problem through the court system,decriminalization or legalization has
never presented itself as a viable solution to people experiencing
substanceabuse problems.

Judge Wendy Lindley and I have devoted a great deal of time and
effort to the concept of drug court and we have paid close attention
to its effectiveness .The drug court I preside over in Central
Superior Court began officially in 1995.Judge Lindley pioneered an
unofficial drug court in Central Municipal Court as far back as 1994
and,since January of this year,has been presiding over the South
Orange County Municipal Court drug court.

Through her initial effort over 1,000 cases were heard;she currently has
38 drugcourt participants,and,as you wrote in your editorial,my court has
handled about 100 cases. In all that time,our collective experience has
been that defendants who come before us are not looking for ways to
continue or legalize their substance abuse. On the contrary,they are
convinced that their addictions are destroying their lives.Many of them are
grateful for the intervention of the criminal justice system in their lives.

Decriminalization is certainly not a solution for a person whose life is
spinning out of control because of addiction to drugs. People who are
experiencing the advanced stages of addiction often cannot hold a job,find
their family and friendships disintegrating,watch their futures
disappearing and find their options becoming more and more limited.Both
Judge Lindley and I have seen countless examples of how people have been
able to piece their lives back together,reunite their families and go on
to become productive members of society.

David McEachen
Santa Ana

Mr. McEachen is an Orange County Superior Court Judge.