JUVENILE DRUG COURT TO DEBUT IN JANUARY

The Big Island Drug Court will have a juvenile program by January, said Third
Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra, who is also the administrative judge for the
island's drug court.

"According to statistics, 80 to 90 percent of the juveniles under family court
have substance abuse involvement," said Warren Kitaoka, Big Island Drug Court
administrator. "Substance abuse is a major problem among adults and juveniles
on the Big Island."

The juvenile program will be similar to the adult program, which was
implemented in October, but will offer fewer openings and more individual
attention, Ibarra said.

There are 37 people enrolled in the adult drug court program, including 21 in
West Hawaii and 16 in East Hawaii, according to drug court statistics. The
program has the capacity to take 50, 25 from each side of the island.

By contrast, the juvenile program will admit a total of 16 teenagers between
the ages of 14 and 17 - eight from each side of the island.

"Kids are different from adults," Ibarra said, adding the issues teenagers deal
with warrant closer supervision.

Big Island Family Court officials will recommend teenagers for enrollment in
the juvenile drug court program, Ibarra said. By enrolling in the program, the
teenager will receive substance abuse treatment and could avoid harsher
punishment from a traditional court.

Qualifications for the teenagers will be similar to those enrolled in the adult
program - a history of substance abuse, no prior conviction for a violent crime
- - but will also consider such factors as family and school support, Ibarra
said.

"We're going to work closely with parents and school administrators," he said.

Like the adults, the teenagers will have to remain in the program for at least
one year to be eligible for graduation.