ORGANIZATIONS TEAM UP TO HELP JUVENILE DRUG COURT

Two organizations' employees have just given area youth an incentive to do
the right thing.

Otero Federal Credit Union and the Youth Empowerment Association teamed up
to give $600 to the Juvenile Drug Court program.

Twelfth Judicial District Judge Jerry Ritter started Juvenile Drug Court
some three years ago, to speed up getting kids back on track. A youth that
is determined viable is quickly assigned into the average year-long program
that brings quick sanctions - as well as incentives to excel such as movie
passes, theme park tickets, and free meals at restaurants.

"It's a pizza here and a cake there," JDC Program Director Rick Gilsdorf
said. "That's a big deal."

Participants sign a contract, and then the judges (Ritter and Frank
Wilson), along with counselors, lawyers and parents set about guiding the
youths away from the "if it feels good I'm gonna do it" attitude that got
them into trouble in the first place, Ritter said in 2002 interview.

The target age group is 14-17, and the ideal candidate is somewhere between
the first and the serious offender. Historically, the gender ratio is 60
percent male, 40 percent female. Females have just as much of a drug
problem as males.

Drug testing might be frequent - such as on Friday and then again on Monday
morning to determine any weekend partying. Positive endeavors are also
encouraged, from attending church to weight lifting programs.

Through the process, children learn to respect not their drug peers -
sadly, for some offenders the drug peers are the only attention they may
have received up to that point in life - but authority.

According to a Drug Court release from Gilsdorf, officials "actively
involved" include, among many others, Assistant District Attorney Sandra
Grisham, District Public Defender Regina Sewell, Juvenile Probation Officer
Carolyn Lee, Alamogordo Department of Public Safety Officer Doyle Syling.

"The JDC staff works hard to provide quality treatment services and support
to both our participants and their families," the release stated. "Our
clients work very hard to turn their lives around. When they fall short of
expectations, there are consequences. When they excel, they're recognized!"

The combined OFCU/YEA combined donation is just one of many from the
community that "make this program a real force in the lives of so many
young men and women," the release stated. "It's a great feeling to be able
to team up with OFCU and the YEA for such important work!"