DRUG COURT GETS FIRST TWO CLIENTS

Kaua'i's Drug Court officially has two clients, who appeared in Fifth Circuit
Court about 8 a.m. Tuesday to plead guilty to drug crimes and enter the minimum
12-month, drug treatment-based program. The hearing was the first proceeding in
the newly-organized drug court program, Kaua'i being the last office to be set
up in the state.

In the courtroom, two men stood side by side with public defender John Calma as
staff of the drug court program and other attorneys sat in the front row of the
gallery. Both men admitted to the charges, in unrelated cases: They were in
possession of crystal methamphetamine or a drug pipe containing the substance.
Prosecutor Michael Soong, with deputy Aaron Kakinami, accepted the men's
referrals to drug court. The two men underwent a pre-screening trial the week
previous.

The two accepted an offer that will keep them from a lengthy stay in jail. But
they have to work at staying out. Testing positive for drugs or alcohol,
frequenting establishments that serve alcohol, getting arrested, failing to
attend meetings or counseling sessions, fighting or harassing any other client
of drug court, or not obeying other rules, could land them in the Kaua'i
Community Correctional Center for a day, weekend, or longer. The exact time
frame is at the judge's discretion.

Drug court is an alternative to traditional criminal prosecution in that
non-violent drug offenders are provided with drug treatment instead of
incarceration. They are required to attend group and individual counseling
sessions and submit to urine analysis screenings for at least 12 months.
Successfully completing the program means that the criminal charges are
dropped.

The Kaua'i drug court has space for 20 offenders. To be eligible for the
program, defendants must be at least 18; must be charged with or pending arrest
for a felony drug offense; have no exhaustive criminal history; and have no
prior convictions for sexual or assault offenses. The Kaua'i drug court will
not be accepting clients with severe mental illness in addition to substance
addiction.

Referrals can come from a public defender or private attorney, or a defendant
can ask to be accepted into the program. The Kaua'i County Prosecutor's office
must approve a referral to drug court, at which time the person completes a
pre-screening period with drug court personnel. Defendants are tested for drugs
and surveyed about their drug use. Referrals shall also be made through the
Judiciary's Adult Probation Division, if a person's probation is revoked for a
drug offense.

On Kaua'i, Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Clifford L. Nakea is scheduled to hear
drug court cases each Tuesday at 8 a.m. in Lihu'e, before the regular court
cases are set.

"Nationwide, drug courts have proven to be cost efficient and effective. In
Hawai'i, treating an adult offender in drug court costs up to $8,000 yearly,
while incarceration costs approximately $32,000 per year," the Judiciary said
in a written statement issued Tuesday.

"Each offender in drug court for a year saves the state about $24,000 and frees
jail space for more violent offenders. Drug court graduates are also more
likely to return to society as productive, law-abiding citizens, thereby
reducing the 'revolving door' of arrests," the statement continued.

Alton Amimoto, Kaua'i drug court coordinator, said Tuesday that he hoped
defendants would find success through constant supervision in the drug court
program and support systems outside the program.

"The Kaua'i Drug Court's mission is to address societal problems relating to
substance abuse," said Nakea in a written statement, "If we can provide these
drug offenders proper treatment, we can significantly reduce societal and
economic costs and protect our community at the same time."

Araceli Gonzalez, the program's substance abuse counselor, said that she will
use a method called cognitive restructuring, which looks at a person's belief
systems, actions and thoughts, and challenges a person to make changes in their
beliefs so they can make different choices and improve their lives.

The method is also used by the Hina Mauka Recovery Center, which holds a
contract with the State of Hawai'i to provide drug treatment options to the
uninsured and underinsured. Hina Mauka, will provide counseling during the days
at its offices in Lihu'e, as well as inpatient treatment, which is offered on
O'ahu. Gonzalez will conduct group sessions with the clients and individual
counseling, as required by the program.

The drug court is located at 3059 Umi St., Lihu'e, on the ground floor of the
courthouse. The office may be reached at 246-3368.