PROGRAM TARGETS HEROIN USE

Counseling Aims To Curb Epidemic In Northeastern Co

The state has implemented a drug court intervention program in Windham
County in an attempt to curtail an escalating heroin problem in
Northeastern Connecticut.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Vincent J. Dooley says he is
"cautiously optimistic" that the 4-month-old program will be as
successful as its designers hoped.

"It was set up by the judicial branch of government to handle an
increasing problem with all drugs, but is specifically at heroin
traffic which is pretty significant in Windham County," Mr. Dooley
said.

"If an offender completes the program, technically there is no
conviction on (his or her) record because no sentence has been
issued," Mr. Dooley said.

The program, based on similar systems in Bridgeport and New Haven,
gives people found guilty of drug-related crimes a kind of
"stay-out-of-jail card" by which they can avoid sentencing by
successfully completing a counseling course.

The counseling is facilitated by a private agency, in this case, New
Perceptions Inc., with offices in Danielson and in Willimantic, site
of the majority of heroin incidents in the area.

"Willimantic is right on the route between Hartford and Providence and
there has always been a drug problem there," Mr. Dooley said.

The intervention program is not designed for rookie
criminals.

"We're not looking at first-time or even second-time offenders,
because the court will usually give these people probation or a
suspended sentence," Mr. Dooley said, adding that the program is
geared for abusers who are "looking at the last bite of the apple.

"This is for people who have a documented substance abuse problem,
generally nonviolent offenders," he said. "They have to plead guilty
to the charge and comply with the program."

The sentence is postponed until the person completes the counseling
program, which usually takes a year and includes community service
through the alternate incarceration program. If there are illegal
incidents during that time, the court can order house arrest,
electronic monitoring or even a few weeks in jail to get the offender
back on the right track.

The funding allows for about 32 counseling slots per year and is about
half full right now. The program is under the jurisdiction of
Danielson Superior Court.