JUDGE SEES NEED FOR ISLE DRUG CENTER

The island needs a long - term drug rehabilitation center in its arsenal if
it hopes to make strides against drug abuse, the island's top judge said
Thursday.

Third Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra and Family Court Judge Aley K. Auna Jr.
answered questions from members of the public Thursday evening at Family
Court. Many of the dozen residents who attended said they were interested in
helping the courts fight the island's drug problems.

Ibarra said the missing piece is a long - term rehabilitation center. Such
centers in Honolulu have long waiting lists, forcing courts to consider
sending defendants to the mainland for treatment, he said.

Auna said 79 percent of the cases he hears in Family Court are drug or
alcohol related.

He said he does order parents and children with substance abuse problems to
report back to court for bi - monthly check - ups.

But there is currently no Drug Court for juveniles on the Big Island, Ibarra
said. He added, however, progress is being made to train people for such a
program.

In addition to his role as a Third Circuit judge, every Tuesday morning
Ibarra oversees the adult division of Drug Court, where defendants are
offered rehabilitative options instead of jail time for offenses. Ibarra
described Drug Court, which began in October on the Big Island, as a more
holistic approach

"When I went to visit a Drug Court (on the mainland) I saw the judge hugging
the defendant," Ibarra said. "And I was a prosecuting attorney for six years
so to see a judge hugging the defendant was different. It was a more
therapeutic approach."

Defendants receive comprehensive services, such as employment and education
opportunities, must submit to frequent drug tests and are closely monitored
by their probation officers.

The Big Island has a Drug Court in West Hawaii and East Hawaii, Ibarra said.
Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura oversees the Drug Court in Hilo. To be tried in
drug court, a defendant must have been convicted of a non - violent crime
relating to drugs, Ibarra said. The Drug Court is currently funded to serve
50 defendants.

Ibarra said he was interested in exploring options for other therapeutic
courts on the Big Island. He said he has already met with the West Hawaii
Mental Health Advisory Board to discuss developing a mental health court.

"While we can talk about all these ideas, it comes down to the people,"
Ibarra said. "I don't want to spread the courts too thin because then we
could be accused of not serving justice."

Contacts:

West Hawaii Drug Court

938 - 6466.