News (Media Awareness Project) - CN MB: Life & Death |
| Title: | CN MB: Life & Death |
| Published On: | 2011-08-02 |
| Source: | Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-08-07 06:02:01 |
LIFE & DEATH
Sitting in drug treatment court feels like a visit to the principal's office.
Each week, two dozen program participants appear before Judge John
Guy for a brief face-to-face talk and review of their progress.
Like the best principals, Guy knows when one of his charges needs
some words of encouragement or when it's time to get tough.
"I view myself as part of the treatment team. I bring the carrot or I
bring the stick," Guy said.
"My job really is to compliment and support the people who are doing
well," he said. "The guys who are not doing so well, (my job) is to
give them, in a nice way, a little s--- that they should be shaping
up, that they are on the bubble. One of our lines is 'This is drug
treatment court, you actually have to get off the drugs.'
"That's something some people in the initial stages have a hard time doing."
Guy was part of a team of justice officials that spearheaded the
creation of a Winnipeg drug treatment court nearly a decade ago and
has been the court's primary judge since its inception in early 2006.
Each Tuesday morning before drug court, Guy meets with counsellors
and lawyers to discuss each participant and their course of treatment.
"I get a written report about each individual ... We go over those
reports, find out who is doing what, what problems there are, who is
doing well and who isn't doing so well."
Some participants who are struggling are referred to a residential
treatment centre until they can stabilize. Others who have returned
to crime or otherwise not met program requirements are kicked out.
Drug court grads who spoke to the Sun lauded Guy for his caring and
interest. Guy said it's hard not to become invested in their success.
"There are some you like better than others and you get people that
seem to be sincere and (working) hard and I do feel disappointment
when they fall off the wagon or don't do as well as I think they
should," he said.
"Then there are some you can see think this is a get out of jail free
card and you get a sense that they are thumbing their nose at the system."
Sitting in drug treatment court feels like a visit to the principal's office.
Each week, two dozen program participants appear before Judge John
Guy for a brief face-to-face talk and review of their progress.
Like the best principals, Guy knows when one of his charges needs
some words of encouragement or when it's time to get tough.
"I view myself as part of the treatment team. I bring the carrot or I
bring the stick," Guy said.
"My job really is to compliment and support the people who are doing
well," he said. "The guys who are not doing so well, (my job) is to
give them, in a nice way, a little s--- that they should be shaping
up, that they are on the bubble. One of our lines is 'This is drug
treatment court, you actually have to get off the drugs.'
"That's something some people in the initial stages have a hard time doing."
Guy was part of a team of justice officials that spearheaded the
creation of a Winnipeg drug treatment court nearly a decade ago and
has been the court's primary judge since its inception in early 2006.
Each Tuesday morning before drug court, Guy meets with counsellors
and lawyers to discuss each participant and their course of treatment.
"I get a written report about each individual ... We go over those
reports, find out who is doing what, what problems there are, who is
doing well and who isn't doing so well."
Some participants who are struggling are referred to a residential
treatment centre until they can stabilize. Others who have returned
to crime or otherwise not met program requirements are kicked out.
Drug court grads who spoke to the Sun lauded Guy for his caring and
interest. Guy said it's hard not to become invested in their success.
"There are some you like better than others and you get people that
seem to be sincere and (working) hard and I do feel disappointment
when they fall off the wagon or don't do as well as I think they
should," he said.
"Then there are some you can see think this is a get out of jail free
card and you get a sense that they are thumbing their nose at the system."
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