DRUG COURT LOOKS FOR WHAT WORKS

The following is the first in a three-part series on "drug courts"
and DeKalb County's effort to start one.

The criminal justice system is "just as insane" as some offenders it
draws into its net.

That's the opinion of Jim Meyer, a social worker who runs the 12-step
addiction counseling program at DuPage County jail.

Meyer also said DuPage runs "one of the better" drug courts in
Illinois "because of the services they provide" and because the
program is staffed by "great people who really want to help people.
It's the best thing going in the criminal justice system."

DuPage County's is just one of 19 drug courts nationwide that was
visited by Marilyn Stromborg, recently appointed DeKalb County drug
court administrator by Chief Judge Kurt Klein.

Stromborg brings a unique combination of skills to the task. She
earned an NIU bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology. She is a
registered nurse, a nurse practitioner and she chaired NIU's School
of Nursing for nine years. She also has a law degree from the NIU
College of Law and a doctorate in educational psychology.

Earlier in her career, Stromborg worked with nurses involved in a
"drug divert" program, because of their addiction.

Meyer explained why he diagnosed the criminal justice program as
insane. He described an addict who is jailed for theft of $30, to
support his drug habit. "When he steals another $30, it's a second
offense, so he's sent to the penitentiary. There he gets no treatment
and the cost to the taxpayer is $30,000-$50,000. When the individual
comes out of the penitentiary, he has the same problems."

Meyer said the Secretary of State runs a 70-hour program in the
penitentiary, but it's "primarily a money maker" for the company that
provides it.

In contrast, Meyer's program and the drug court cost only about 10
percent of the penitentiary's bill. "It's a savings for the
taxpayers," he said.

Asked about participants in the DuPage addictions program, Meyer
said, "Most of the clients are alcoholic as well as addicted to some
kind of drug."

Though the decision hasn't been finalized, Stromborg said she think's
DeKalb County's program will work primarily with drug addiction other
than alcohol.

She said she appreciates that the County Board funded a full-time
person to run the drug court; with programs that aren't doing well,
staff often have other full-time duties to perform.

However, county board member Steve Slack, who has campaigned long and
hard for the program, said he's concerned there won't be enough money
left over after Stromberg's salary to adequately fund the program.
He's anxious for the county to apply for grants to help with the cost.

One of the county board's goals was to divert prisoners from the
already overcrowded jail in Sycamore; prisoners routinely have to be
boarded out to other county jails because there's no room. The extra
cost is counted in many thousands of dollars.

Stromborg is now working with a team representing the state's
attorney, law enforcement, the public defender,a Ben Gordon Center
therapist and a few others. Describing the team's work for the next
seven to eight months, Stromborg said, "This week we'll be looking at
who should be targeted for the drug court."

She expects it will be adults only ...and, by Illinois law,
participants must be non-violent. "I don't see us focusing in on
alcohol but that could change," she said.

Individuals selected must "want to be in in this program. It's very
hard work. It's much easier to plead guilty, be sentenced and serve
time in jail," she said.

Those in the program will spend about 20 hours a week in treatment
and will have to attend a program similar to A.A. They also will have
educational requirements, including training or GED completion so
they can get a job and control their own lives when they "graduate"
from the program.

"They also must give up their friends," Stromborg stressed. "If they
don't they'll relapse."

Many years earlier, Stromborg was a member of a group that started
hospice, the program that supports terminally ill persons and their
families. Recalling that experience, she smiled and said, "I like to
start new things."