JUVENILE COURT PRACTICES EARLY INTERVENTION

County's Program First And Only In State

ST. ALBANS CITY- "It starts younger than anyone wants to think," said
state's attorney Jim Hughes in a discussion of Franklin County's
Juvenile Drug Court. One of only a handful of juvenile drug courts in
the country, and the only one in Vermont, the Franklin County program
puts non-violent offenders through a rigorous program designed to help
them end their substance use.

In order to qualify for the program, offenders must be 13 to 16 years
old, have committed more than one non-violent offense, and admit to
having a substance abuse problem, according to program coordinator
Mary Mossey. Hughes recommends admittance to the program but a judge
makes the final determination.

Alcohol and marijuana are the most commonly used substances, although
some participants have used cocaine and pills. Partying isn't often
the issue, said Tricia Brett of the Agency of Human Services, "they're
self-medicating."

One of the advantages drug court has over other types of treatment
programs is that it includes comprehensive treatment that can get at
the underlying causes of substance abuse problems, according to case
manager Jason Lantagne.

The program, which began in May, is intended to help teens that have
failed in traditional treatment settings.

Currently, there are two youth participants with one in orientation
and two more who have been recommended. Ten is the maximum number of
juvenile drug offenders that will be admitted to the program.

Based on behavior modification, the program offers incentives for
positive behavior and sanctions for negative behavior. Sanctions may
include a curfew or additional random drug tests. New participants are
tested three times per week.

Incentives include gift certificates, event tickets, and sporting
equipment donated to the program through the Agency of Human Services
or state's attorney Jim Hughes' office.

The incentives can have a surprising impact, according to Brett. The
gave one participant a gift certificate for Ben & Jerry's ice cream
and heard about it for three weeks, she reported.

Brett emphasized the importance of coming before the judge once a
week. Unlike in a traditional courtroom, it is the teens, not court
officials, who speak to the judge. "They like reporting in and saying
'I did a good job,'" Brett said.

Doing a good job isn't easy. To succeed participants must change the
people, places and things in their lives, breaking away from friends
who supported their substance use and other destructive behaviors.
For young teens that can mean changing their whole lives, Hughes said.

Staff, including Lantagne, Brett, Moss, Hughes and Vermont District
Court Judge Howard Van Benthuysen, meets weekly to discuss each case.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provided
initial staff training.

In addition to incentives, the program needs healthy mentors.