Series: Four Lives, One Last Chance - A Year In Drug Court: Part 7 Of 41

ACT I: THE SANCTION

Two weeks after starting Drug Court, Vernon is sitting between Charity and
Ford again, and he doesn't like what he's hearing.

Charity is telling the judge how Vernon missed one of his required
Narcotics Anonymous meetings and didn't take a drug test.

"And that counts as a positive screen," Charity says. "Mr. Mapson has been
drug-free for the past zero days."

"What?" Vernon thinks.

He looks up at Charity more perplexed than angry. He hasn't used in months.
He just couldn't muster the urine to take the test that one day. Charity
told him to come back and take the test, but there was no one in the office
when he stopped by. So what if he didn't take the test? He's clean.

But Ford's report to the judge isn't much better. He says Vernon has a bad
attitude and spends most of his time making fun of his peers.

When Ford finishes talking, an aggravated Vernon drags himself out of the
chair and stands in front of the judge.

"I don't like this report, Vernon," Conway says.

"Me neither," Vernon answers. "For some reason I just can't use the
bathroom. I wasn't trying to get out of taking a urine test."

"Let me ask you this, Vernon," the judge says. "I'm picking up from these
reports an attitude problem."

"No, sir, I..." he starts to say, before Conway cuts him off.

"Now, why don't you let me talk," the judge says.

Like a stern parent, Conway tells Vernon to straighten up and improve his
attitude. Then he asks Vernon what punishment he thinks he deserves.

"Man, I ain't trying to go to jail. Not for this," Vernon says. "I'm
spooked right now, thinking I'm going to be sanctioned."

The judge has seen this sort of half-hearted compliance with the rules
dozens of times before.

Many clients are like Vernon when they enter the program - stubborn,
disrespectful, even arrogant. They think the rules don't apply to them.
They think they can cheat the system like they've been doing their entire
lives.

But Conway doesn't allow it.

He brushes off Vernon's plea and calmly sanctions him to three days in
jail. Then he beckons for the next name on the docket.

Vernon pivots around, his face crunched up in anger. As a deputy moves
toward him, pointing at the side door leading to jail, Vernon wipes his
face in exasperation and makes a mumbled request for someone to collect his
bag from the courtroom.

Vernon serves his time and emerges from jail quieter and calmer. He keeps a
low profile around Drug Court for a few days, and, on the surface, he
appears to have gotten the message. In court the following week, Charity
even reports that Vernon has a better attitude.

"Tell me about your attitude," Judge Conway says, as Vernon stands up to
talk about his progress.

"Just humbled myself," Vernon says in low voice. "Frustrated by being
locked up."

The judge seems satisfied with Vernon's pledge of humility and the face
he's showing this day.

After court, however, Vernon reflects on his sanction with some of his
peers while they smoke cigarettes outside the Drug Court offices.

Among them, he speaks with the tone of someone who feels wronged.

"Hell, no. They didn't get me right. I didn't use. I didn't piss dirty," he
says, his voice dripping with indignation.

"Then they try to say something about my attitude. I ain't changed."

The mask he wore in court has come off, and he brags that he'll light up
the biggest marijuana cigar he can find as soon as he's free of the program.

"I can't promise I won't use again," he says.

"My motivation right now is a fat blunt after 18 months."