DRUG COURT AIMED AT CURBING METH, OTHER DRUGS' USE

Okanogan County sheriff Frank Rogers says about 35 percent of crime in
Okanogan County is related to drugs, particularly methamphetamine, so law
enforcement officers, behavioral health employees and criminal justice
workers are seeking solutions.

Members of the Meth Action Team are educating adults and students on
meth-related health risks, how to identify a meth lab or meth dump site,
and some of the behaviors to look for in people suspected of using the drug.

Meth is one of the most addictive drugs in the United States, according to
those involved. Methamphetamine arrests in Okanogan County have more than
doubled within the past six years, according to police statistics.

Laurie Miller, Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare community
coordinator/prevention specialist, attributes the increase to accessibility
to the drug, a lack of treatment centers and lenient prison times. Most of
the ingredients used to make meth can be purchased at any grocery store,
she said.

Despite health risks including hair loss, dental problems, anxiety and
drug-induced psychosis, meth quickly became the drug of choice, especially
for people in their 20s and 30s, said Rogers.

He said while marijuana use by teens has increased over the past couple
years, drug-related crimes in many age groups most often are related to meth.

For that reason, people in the law enforcement, behavioral health and the
criminal justice systems have been preparing to start a drug court in
Okanogan County.

If all goes as planned, drug court will be up and running next month, say
those involved. Members of the drug court steering committee completed all
the necessary training this year.

According Miller, drug court costs will be covered by a five-year federal
grant through the drug court planning initiative.

Drug court will deal with non-violent drug offenders such as users and
dealers, not manufacturers, she said.

Okanogan County prosecutor Karl Sloan said offenders who qualify for drug
court and voluntarily enter the program will be seen in a separate docket
on Fridays. He said drug court will consist of intense supervision and
tracking of individuals, and he imagines some offenders will opt to stay on
the criminal docket and hope for a reduced sentence.

The intention of drug court is to make treatment more accessible, resulting
in fewer repeat offenses.

He said the criminal justice system needs to take hard look at the impact
of "good behavior time," which reduces sentences. Many prosecutors feel
reduced sentencing undermines drug court programs and the reason sentencing
guidelines were originally set, he said.

According to Sloan, sentencing guidelines have changed significantly over
the past couple years. In July 2002, the state Legislature eliminated
triple scoring on prior drug convictions with the exception of manufacture
of methamphetamine, he said.

The elimination of triple scoring for prior or other current drug
convictions substantially reduced prison sentences on affected defendants.

In July 2003, the Legislature put in place another sentencing guideline
known as "good time" credit that further reduced sentences for many drug
offenses. The law increased good time to 50 percent of the imposed sentence
for many types of felony offenses, but the change does not apply to
manufacture of meth or delivery or possession with intent to deliver
methamphetamine; those remain at 33 percent good time credit.

Sloan said the basis for legislative action was to reduce the state budget
by reducing inmate levels in prisons and the corresponding cost. He said
the action shifts state costs back onto the counties.

He said by cutting sentences and releasing repeat offenders back into the
community much more quickly, local jurisdictions see increased costs
associated with police, prosecution, court and jails, as well as cost borne
by victims of crimes.

According to Sloan, of all the states, Washington gives the smallest
percentage of money to counties to support the criminal justice system.

"When dealing with drug offenses, I feel there should be more treatment
alternatives available to deal with individuals who are addicted to drugs
and who commit crimes of straight possession or dealing in very small
amounts to support their addiction," said Sloan.

"The changes to the sentencing laws did little to increase the availability
or funding of these options, and without taking some action to remove the
addiction that is the underlying motive for these crimes, the chances of
reducing the level of these crimes are limited," he said.

While Sloan said he feels strongly about offering treatment options to
addicts through drug court, he said the penalties for crimes involving
dealing controlled substances for profit or manufacture of controlled
substances have become too lenient.

He said the hope is to reduce the number of repeat drug offenders through
the closely monitored drug court imposed treatment program.

On the other hand, Sloan said offenders who deliver controlled substances
for profit or who manufacture controlled substances should be removed from
the community through significant prison sentences.

"If somebody is supporting themselves through drug sales, that's not going
to change by giving them a short time in prison or jail," he said. "We've
seen people come back to our community and (be) arrested for the same
activity."

Most recently Sloan said he heard about a man who finished his prison
sentence, was deported to Mexico and was caught selling cocaine locally to
an informant within two months of his deportation.

Sloan said people who choose to enter drug court will be monitored for at
least 18 months. While in the program, they will take drug tests, get
treatment, seek employment or schooling, and show up for drug court at
least twice per month.

If participants fail to meet program requirements, they will be sanctioned
by means of more drug testing or jail time, depending on the violation. If
the participant commits a severe crime, his or her case will go back to
criminal court, said Sloan.

Drug court consists of a judge, public prosecutor, public defender, the
offender and his or her counselor, and a person who supervises the offender.

Sloan said drug court members met Nov. 19 and determined there are people
in the Okanogan County criminal justice system that would qualify for drug
court. He said now it's time for those people to determine whether they
want to enter an 18-month drug court program or take their chances in
criminal court.

Volunteers needed

People interested in working toward solutions to the methamphetamine
problem in Okanogan County may contact Laurie Miller at Okanogan County
Behavioral HealthCare.

Miller said she plans to start a meth education coalition made up of
teachers, educators and youth. Group members would get educational
information from members of the Meth Action Team and take it directly to
the community, she said.

According to Miller, one of the greatest concerns for law enforcement
officers, behavioral health workers and members of Child Protective
Services is to protect children in Okanogan County.

Miller said many kids are neglected, abused mentally and physically, and/or
exposed to dangerous chemicals when their parents or guardians are cooking
meth.

Volunteers for the meth education coalition are greatly needed to make the
effort successful, she said.

More information is available from Miller, 826-8468.