DRUG COURT

Four graduate from program Oklahoma prisons are full of inmates convicted
of drug charges or charges that are a direct result of their drug dependency.

Those who are similarly incarcerated in Cherokee County have an option of
staying out of prison if they can stay sober. That option is Drug Court,
and the 12-18 month program culminates with a "graduation."

Special District Judge Jeff Payton, whose duties in Cherokee County include
being the Drug Court judge, said two men and two women graduated from the
program last week.

The program, which is authorized by state statutes, has 32 participants in
Cherokee County at this time.

Payton said confidentiality requirements prevent him from divulging the
names of the participants, but he did say 65 percent of the 32 participants
are men, and 65 percent are American Indian.

"A majority of them have kids," he said. "This is affecting their lives, too."

Payton said Drug Court is for non-violent offenders who have a criminal
history as a result of drug use - either drug charges, or other charges
that can be tied to a drug problem.

Defendants are tested before being placed in the program.

"We want to be sure they have a drug problem," Payton said.

The minimum time for the program is one year, but some take as long as 18
months to complete it.

"It has five phases, and their supervision decreases as they progress
through the phases," Payton said. "If they mess up, we have the authority
to impose sanctions, and if they do well, their reward is they don't have
to come to court as often."

Payton said those in the early stages of the program must report to some
facet of it nearly daily.

"It's a pretty intense program," he said. Attendance at 12-step meetings is
a must. The program has service providers that include Eagle Ridge
Institute, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program and others.

Eagle Ridge is a main provider for the local Drug Court program. Payton
said successful completion of the program can earn the defendant a deferred
judgment or an expunged record.

He said 75 percent of those who start the program complete it.

"I think that's pretty good," he said. "We do have some who don't make it,
and a few who complete the program and have a relapse."

Last week's graduates were the third such group for Payton.

They had a ceremony at the Holiday Inn, and all four gave speeches about
the impact the program had on their lives.

Payton said a "graduate" has to be sober for at least six months prior to
graduation.