DRUG COURT SEEKS JOBS FOR PARTICIPANTS

A program that gives people convicted of drug offenses a second
chance is celebrating its 20th anniversary nationwide and is seeking
local volunteer opportunities.

Madison Circuit Judge Jean C. Logue, who heads up the Clark and
Madison County Drug Court, said the program is seeking additional
volunteer community service opportunities for participants in the program.

"We're always looking for good volunteer jobs," Logue said. "They
help here at the courthouse, and we sent some people to help the
city with cleanup from the ice storm."

Drug court is a criminal justice program that began in Miami in 1989
to give people who plead guilty to drug-related crimes the
opportunity to receive supervised treatment for their addiction
instead of being incarcerated.

Currently, 84 judges in Kentucky preside over drug court programs in
more than half of the state's 120 counties, and federal Justice
Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance counts more than 2,000
active drug court programs across the country.

Madison County's program began approximately 10 years ago under
former Circuit Judge Julia Adams.

Logue said the program, which covers Madison and Clark counties, has
12 to 14 participants and some graduates in an aftercare program.

Drug court participants can enter the program either by requesting
an assessment from the judge following a guilty plea, or under the
terms of a diversion agreement with prosecutors.

To be eligible, applicants cannot have a history of violence or sex
crimes, and Logue said generally that applicants have been convicted
of possession of controlled substances and not trafficking with few
exceptions.

"We have a very wide variety of people from all walks of life," Logue said.

Once in the program, Logue said there are a number of requirements
for participants.

"They have to undergo random drug testing every week," Logue said.
"They call in every morning between 7:30 and 8:30 to find out if
they're being tested."

Each participant is tested at least three times each week while in
the first phase of the program, which focuses on ending dependency on drugs.

"We want to stabilize them and try to get them clean," Logue said.

During the first phase, participants attend one court session
weekly, attend counseling sessions and begin working on education
and employment.

"They have to get their GED, and they have to apply for jobs," Logue
said. "If you're not working, you have to volunteer on community
service projects."

Logue said participants in her program now will be receiving two
group counseling sessions as soon as they are accepted, and
individual counseling also will be available if needed. Participants
also are required to attend 12-step meetings.

While drug court participants are not incarcerated while in the
program, they still can be sent to prison to serve their sentences
if they fail the program, and minor infractions can result in stays
at the Madison County Detention Center.

"A missed test or a test that's been tampered with is considered a
positive test," Logue said. "Sometimes we have tests that come back
as ‘diluted samples,' which mean they've been watered down."

In phase two of the program, participants are tested twice weekly at
random and must attend court every two weeks while maintaining their
employment, volunteer work or education.

Participants also must remain in contact with the case specialist
for the court, Audrey Posvic, who is responsible for helping
participants with job applications and volunteer work, approving
requests to travel outside the county and coordinating
other portions of the program.

Logue said that as a part of her efforts to expand the program by
offering more educational opportunities, the court may add an
additional case specialist.

"We've applied for some educational grants," Logue said.

In the last phase of the program, participants are tested once a
week at random and must continue to attend self-help meetings and
counseling sessions.

"By phase three, you can see a change," Logue said. "It's a lot of
accountability in drug court. It is a very strict program. If you
mess up, there are consequences."

Logue said statewide statistics indicate that only 20 percent of
drug court graduates commit another felony within two years,
compared to 57 percent of people who do not participate in the program.

"The hope is to help them see a different side of life so they don't
end up back in the criminal justice system," Logue said. "It's a
chance to stop the cycle."