Fifteenth Of Ongoing Series

THIS IS HOW THEY DO THINGS IN PHILADELPHIA

Drug Court Participants Get New Rules To Live By After Team Takes Training
Session

Note: The following article is the 15th in a series regarding the creation
of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Court Program recently implemented in
Pahrump. Because drug court is designed to treat addiction rather than
prosecute users as is done in criminal courts, the identities of
participants will be altered for purposes of confidentiality; their
photographs will not be printed.

The Fifth Judicial District Drug Court team came back from Philadelphia
after a one-week training seminar with renewed vigor - and a revised policy
in many respects. Perhaps the most important change imposed on drug court
defendants is an 11 p.m. curfew. Participants can no longer date each
other, though they can socialize platonically and support one another, and
they must dress for court appropriately (that means no shorts, tank tops,
etc.).

One more bit of news: a new bailiff has joined the drug court team and he
will have a very active role in the lives of participants, from collecting
urine specimens to knocking on doors after curfew to ensure his charges are
home. The men and women of drug court seemed to take the revisions in stride.

Joe was the first participant to stand before Judge Robert Lane on Monday.
He successfully completed the mandates of drug court, and told Lane things
were going "the same old same old." Lane replied by saying the "same old
same old can be a drag," and that sometimes leads addicts to use drugs.

The judge suggested Joe become involved in EMT training or find a hobby.

Vicki had two good weeks since the last drug court session. She made her
12-step meetings and attended her counseling sessions, performed a
substantial portion of her community service requirements, and most
importantly she stayed away from methamphetamine because all four of her
urine drops were clean.

Greg underwent oral surgery and was excused from Monday's session. His wife
Stephanie will likely beat Greg into phase two of the innovative program.
She has done well since shortly after joining drug court as its lone
volunteer not on formal probation. Her pregnancy is going well, and she
advised the court that everything else is, too.

The same can be said for Paul, who became the third person promoted into
phase two. He is "doing wonderful," according to Lane, and had a very
believable excuse for his performance. "I've had temptations, your honor,
but they pass because I'm staying away from everyone I know."

The comment drew laughter from the drug court team as well as Paul's peers
in the program. He is still working and has met his obligations. As a
reward for advancing, Lane gave Paul a copy of "Charlie's Monument."

A few weeks ago Amy was sent to a six-month in-house rehabilitation program
sponsored by the Salvation Army. She was back in drug court on Monday, but
not because she was bounced from rehab. According to a drug court team
member, Amy has a medical condition that needs to be addressed before she
can return to the Salvation Army. In the meantime, she must meet the
mandates of drug court and appears to be doing so.

Liz, the most recent person chosen to participate in drug court two weeks
ago, made her counseling sessions and 12-step meetings, but she had a major
problem with one of her urine drops. The young woman was accused of
"dipping" her cup in the toilet while a female probation officer looked on.

She hotly denied the allegation, and had no explanation when Lane advised
her the liquid inside the cup was cold to the touch after Liz proffered it
to the officer. She told Lane she was "irritated by the accusation." Lane
told her not to take it personally. "Just tell them you don't know what
they're talking about."

Evidently the probation officer couldn't be absolutely certain if Liz
dipped her cup, because she was not sanctioned for falsifying a urine drop.
Usually such attempts to deceive are treated harshly.

Three weeks after showing up for a counseling session and a urine drop
while under the influence of meth - and getting two weeks in jail for his
trouble - Dennis bounced back in a big way. He tested clean, made his
meetings and counseling sessions, and had a job interview with a local
automotive repair shop this week. "Everything's going good," he said. "I
quit hanging around people who do it."

And then it was time for "Murderer's Row," as Lane described the remaining
drug court participants. Fortunately, the judge was being humorous because
nobody killed anyone while the drug court team was in Philadelphia.

Theresa went to jail for a few days through no fault of her own when police
picked her up on an outdated warrant that was never taken out of the
system. She found employment at a business that will open in a few weeks,
but she also found time to do meth.

Theresa's admission that she used prompted Lane to offer insight on one of
several lessons the drug court team learned back East, and that has to do
with relapses into drug use. In weeks past the drug court team wrestled
with the issue of dirty urine drops, though clearly they were expected.
"Most of you, we don't have to worry about a relapse because we haven't got
you to stop using (in the first place).

"Many is the time I'm up at 4 a.m. racking my brain trying to figure out
how to get you to stop using."

So rather than sanction Theresa to a stint in jail, the woman was assigned
to write a 1,000-word essay on her life goals. It must be turned in to the
drug court coordinator by today. Joan also had dirty tests, though her last
two were clean. She made her counseling sessions but was late, and has
failed to check in with drug court each morning at 8. All participants who
are not employed fulltime must present themselves in person to the courthouse.

She was late to Monday's session and it was her habitual tardiness that got
her in trouble more than the dirty tests. On the upside, Joan did complete
40 hours of community service work. As sanctions, Lane ordered Joan to
write a 500-word essay on her life goals and a 1,000-word essay on virtues
such as punctuality. He also ordered her to sit in during Judge John Davis'
law and motion calendar Tuesday in district court.

Lane's comments apparently hit home. Joan made it to court two hours early
and never left until Davis adjudicated the last case of the day sometime
after 3 p.m.

In the end, the first drug court participant to be chosen at the inception
of the innovative program in May was hit the hardest on Monday. John was
sent to a Las Vegas in-house rehab center for a 90-day stint. He told the
court his car was stolen and his 12-step slips were inside. He missed
counseling sessions and either tested dirty or admitted he used. "I'm
disgusted with myself, your honor," John said. "I'm disgusted."

"You're still using after three months," was all Lane would say before
ordering John to write a 1,000 word essay on his life's goals, and then
dropped the hammer when he demanded John go to the Las Vegas treatment center.

John could have walked out of court, but instead he walked to the jury box,
with head bowed, to await transfer to Las Vegas. "You can do it (John),"
shouted Theresa after court was recessed.