Ninth Of Ongoing Series

MEMO TO DENNIS: DON'T GO TO DRUG COURT 'WIRED'

Dennis was the only menace in drug court Monday afternoon, and earned a
week in jail for failing to meet any of the innovative program's
substantial conditions. In fact, Fifth District Judge Robert Lane suggested
Dennis was high when he showed up at 4.

"You look kind of wired to me," Lane said. "I can't have you coming to
court happier than me." Dennis denied he was under the influence, but
freely admitted he twice tested positive for meth last week during his
mandatory twice-weekly urine drops, failed to attend any of the three
weekly counseling sessions or three 12-step meetings, or report to his
probation officer each day as required.

When asked if he wanted to remain a drug court defendant - the program
lasts 12-36 months, depending on the progress a defendant makes - Dennis
answered in the affirmative. A negative response would have meant a prison
term.

"I'll make adjustments this week," Dennis said. A recent honors graduate at
the prison boot camp, Dennis said he has since separated from his wife and
children, and the lessons he learned in boot camp went by the wayside.

Lane hinted he was about to send Dennis to jail, but comments made by
Deputy District Attorney and drug court team member Pete Knight staved off
the sanction, sort of. "He's just doing what addicts do, Judge," Knight
said. "I don't think it's time for jail, yet." Instead, Knight suggested
Lane give Dennis a week to straighten up.

Dennis said he works 12-hour days and that prevented him from attending any
of the necessary meetings, and he was bluntly honest with the judge
regarding his continued use of drugs.

Not wanting to cost Dennis his job, Lane sentenced the man to spend six
nights in jail from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Moments later Dennis received a break
when Lane was advised the jail would be closed for four days beginning
Friday. Those in custody and unable to make bail would be transported to
the Beatty or Tonopah facilities.

Dennis instead was ordered to spend four half-days in jail, and he won't be
joined by fellow boot camp graduate and drug court participant Paul. Paul
evidently takes drug court serious. He and Dennis were accepted into the
program last week.

Paul attended his AA meetings and counseling sessions and passed his two
random drug tests, though Lane appeared to be skeptical of the negative
results. The judge implied there were indications Paul altered his urine.

Lane did not accuse Paul of doing so, but he did advise the man - and the
11 other drug court defendants in court on Monday - that any adulteration
of urine "is telling me you're lying."

"I get gun-shy," replied Paul. "All I did was drink a gallon of water or I
wouldn't be able to go."

Lane apparently believed the man, and Paul was treated to a round of
applause from the drug court team and his peers in the program. "One day at
a time," the judge said to Paul.

As well as Paul did his first week, Fred has excelled since coming into the
program several weeks ago. Not once has Fred had a negative drug test, he
continues to make all of his sessions and meetings, and he had some good
news to share with Lane.

The man has found a great job and on Monday Fred will begin several weeks
of training before he begins working for a key employer in the region. The
downside is the hours. Fred said he would not be able to get to drug court
until roughly 5 p.m. and cell phones don't work where he'll be going to school.

Lane advised Fred to call his probation officer at 4 p.m. to find out if he
needs to make a urine drop. Lane asked the man to provide the court with
his employer's telephone number. "I'd like to talk to him and try to get
some things worked out," said Lane.

Fred agreed to supply the information, and advised Lane his boss is aware
of his status in drug court. Sheepishly, he added, "I told my supervisor
this wouldn't interfere with my job."

Greg already has a good job, a pregnant fiancee, and a positive attitude
after a couple of rough weeks. Greg passed his drug tests, and told Lane he
attended the required 12-step meetings and two of three counseling sessions.

"I'm glad you mentioned that," the judge said. "You have to learn to be
responsible and cognitive behavior counseling (is how you do that)." Lane
added, "Drug addicts have trained their minds to slack off. We want to
retrain you to understand you're going to be held accountable. Going to two
of three is not part of the program."

Lane decided on the spot that in the future a missed counseling session
would result in a night in jail, a missed 12-step meeting would earn the
participant community service hours. "From this point on that's how it's
going to be," he said. For missing one of his counseling sessions, Lane
assigned Greg to complete a few hours of community service work.

Greg kept a promise to the court and paid to have an independent lab
analyze the THC in his system. Greg continues to show traces of marijuana
in his urine. He will pay for a second test today to see if the
concentration has diminished.

Cathy, Greg's fiancee and the drug court's only volunteer participant, has
started to show obvious signs of pregnancy. While Cathy expressed a keen
interest in staying in the program, Lane and the drug court team have to
decide how it can test her for drugs or sanction her for failure to meet
court conditions. Since she is a volunteer, the Department of Parole and
Probation does not have the right to take a urine sample, and the court
itself has no jurisdiction over the woman. She is the only drug court
participant not under formal probation and subject to the incumbent
regulations probationers must adhere to.

Samantha had her first good week after spending six half-days in jail for a
bevy of transgressions last week. Samantha made her counseling sessions,
and one 12-step meeting. "I did not sign the slip myself this time either,"
said Samantha. Last week she provided the court with bogus slips and was
caught.

Most important, Samantha did not use meth this week, and she's hoping to
get part-time work at a nursery and at a local fast food restaurant. One
negative continues to be her attire in court. Last week it was shorts, this
week camouflage pants and a bare midriff.

Another disappointment, according to Parole and Probation Officer Robert
Raymond, is the fact the Pahrump Family Resource Center in exchange for
work offered Samantha housing assistance, but she didn't arrive.

"Don't keep testing my patience," Lane said. "Eventually I'll start getting
mad and you'll pay a price for it." As a sanction, Lane ordered Samantha to
attend five 12-step meetings this week instead of the usual three. "I don't
want you to think of this as punishment," said the judge. "It's just extra
counseling I think you need."

While Samantha's week wasn't stellar, she did show more effort than in
previous weeks. For the second time, John has also demonstrated a desire to
get with the program. He made his counseling sessions and 12-step meetings,
and tested clean for the second straight week.

John said he enjoys the Narcotics Anonymous meetings he attended. "A lot of
what they say makes sense. I stayed clean all week."

"I'm really proud of you," Lane said. "This is your first star week; how
does that make you feel?"

"A lot better than when the newspaper headline said 'Gone Rabbit.'" John
disappeared for a week shortly after becoming the first person selected to
participate in the drug court program.

Vicki's week in jail for testing positive for meth and then denying using
the drug appeared to have a sobering effect. She begins anew Monday, and
promised Lane she would stay away from meth users.

Theresa and Joan were the latest two members to be admitted into drug
court. Both young women have a history of drug abuse, and the drug court
team hopes it can help them beat their respective addictions.

They'll get fewer chances to fail than their predecessors did. Lane's
patience has apparently waned and half-measure efforts will no longer be
tolerated.