MISDEMEANOR DRUG COURT SUGGESTED

It is my sincere belief that there are many criminals who commit
misdemeanor crimes who would benefit tremendously by rehabilitation
programs such as the SAMI (Substance Abuse and Mental Illness) program
as well as the drug-court program.

However, there aren't any such programs for misdemeanor offenders.
Rehab programs like Sojourner have a waiting list that can be six
months to one year long.

Convicted felons from both SAMI program and drug court take precedence
over the misdemeanor offenders ... which seems a bit unfair, to say
the least.

Therefore, I have a proposal of my own. This proposal could
significantly help bring crime rate down in our city, as well prevent
overcrowding in the local jails (Butler County Jail and Resolutions),
and offer rehabilitation to misdemeanor offenders before they reach
felony status, overall creating more productive citizens, by offering
them rehabilitation vs. sitting in jail day after day without learning
any new life skills.

. State funding, government grant money and numerous volunteers in
the community could be used to create a misdemeanor drug court. The
program could meet in a courtroom of the Hamilton Municipal Court or
perhaps at the old courthouse on High Street ... Participants should
meet one to three days a week for about two to four hours a day.

The Internet has many programming ideas for class teachings (and so)
do many recovering addicts of the community who, I'm positive, would
love to help by offering counseling services; goal and appointment
setting and job-seeking skills; relapse prevention skills; and other
rehabbing skills and support. I know this because most recovering
addicts, like myself, would live for the opportunity to help others
change ... or to help others from making the same mistakes ...

I realize that you may not think of me right now (because I'm writing
to you from jail) - not to mention having the nerve to write a
letter with such a proposal. But to be able to help with such a
program would give me and my life such meaning and purpose that I
honestly don't believe I would ever use drugs again ...

I want you to know that I am not suggesting that the participants of a
misdemeanor drug court not do any jail time ... I am suggesting that
misdemeanor criminals who receive six months to 18 months in jail
would be required to spend 30 to 90 days in jail before applying or
attending the program and, as a condition of early release or
probation, these inmates would begin this opportunity to turn their
lives around.

JUANITA SUDBERRY

Hamilton