COUNTY COURT GIVES SUBSTANCE ABUSERS ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL

Michael Pasternik had been sober just 24 hours when he landed in Judge
Nancy Coats' courtroom last year. Arrested for possession of crack cocaine,
he faced a lengthy prison sentence. Instead, he was sent to Oklahoma
County's Mental Health Court, which offers treatment for mental illness and
substance abuse as a substitute for incarceration.

Pasternik, 54, returned to Coats' courtroom Thursday. He was among the
first two graduates of the groundbreaking program.

"Today I am not the same man that stood before you 13 months ago," he told
the court. "I have healed my relationship with my family and I have been
clean and sober all along."

Courtroom participants clapped when Pasternik, who is diagnosed with
bipolar disorder, reported he'd been sober 420 days and has taken
medication for his illness for 391 days.

His criminal charge was dismissed and Pasternik, who served several
previous prison sentences, said he planned to look for a job and stay out
of jail.

Prognosis: Success His sister said he'll succeed if he continues taking his
medications.

"Part of the actual disease is going on and off your medications," Rebecca
Pasternik-Ikard said. "This has provided him with incentive and a support
system to be successful."

The mental health court is the only one in the state. About 20 nonviolent
offenders have been "sentenced" to counseling and taking their medication
in lieu of going to jail.

Officials say the criminal justice system is working better because of the
court.

People with mental illness are less likely to repeat their offenses if they
receive medical treatment. The program costs about $5,000 a year per
offender, compared with $20,000 to lock up an inmate for a year.

"There's great human potential here," state Mental Health Commissioner
Terry Cline said. "Otherwise, they'd literally be a burden on the state."

Coats said research shows up to 20 percent of the prison population suffers
from mental illness.