PROGRAM NEEDS STREAMLINING

I agree with Dennis Howard's letter regarding drug court ("If court is
working, why is there a wait?" March 31).

The current judicial leadership in Greene County does not serve the best
interest of the public. No wonder there's a wait to get in drug court; it
rarely releases anyone.

This program is way too intense. Drug court's demands are so unrealistic,
they set their clients up for failure. Drug court often imposes sanctions
of 48 hours in jail. Doing 48 hours of community service seems more
productive. These sanctions do not work because they keep imposing them on
the same clients over and over. Tax dollars are wasted jailing these
nonviolent, first-time offenders for very minor infractions. It just puts
an undue burden on an already near-or overcapacity jail.

This program must be streamlined, operate more efficiently, and be willing
to work with its clients if it is going to work. I don't know if Mr.
Howard's solution is private treatment providers, but it is certainly worth
a closer look. His method may successfully process clients in a timely,
more efficient manner. Drug court sounds like politics as usual to me too.

J.D. Koran, Republic