DRUG COURT HELPS SW VA. JUVENILES TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES

An innovative new court established in Lee and Scott counties under the
guidance of Judge Greg Baker is aimed at helping juvenile drug and alcohol
users take responsibility for their lives. It's the first operational
Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Court west of Charlottesville.

As anyone involved in the court system will readily attest, court cases
involving juveniles, especially in the last decade or so, have presented
policymakers and the courts with sometimes new and difficult challenges.
That's why this Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Court is so welcome.

Judge Baker will have a special docket each month in each county -
completely separate from the usual juvenile court proceedings - that will
deal only with drug and alcohol cases of juveniles, holding them
responsible for their actions and their subsequent required recovery.

Judge Baker notes that "All of the independent surveys done across the
country show that these type of drug courts are very successful in treating
people who have a substance abuse problem.''

This particular collaborative effort, Baker says, was formed as a way of
trying to rehabilitate young people with drug and alcohol problems.

The idea, Baker says, "is to reduce criminal recidivism rates with public
safety in mind but with a focus on stopping a problem with a young person
before it gets out of hand using the juvenile, the system, and the parent.''

The court, which began two months ago, has a combined county caseload of 13
juveniles, but that number is expected to increase to nearly 25 by year's end.

Mark Thompson, coordinator for the drug court, said juveniles progress
through a three-step program for a time period not to exceed 12 to 18
months, depending on the type of addiction the juvenile is dealing with and
how severe it is.

"The first step,'' Thompson says, "is that the juvenile has to plead guilty
or be guilty of a probation violation if someone tests positive for drugs
after being found guilty.''

Over the next 12 months, juveniles enter a three-phase regimen of treatment.

The first two months track a juvenile's progress with weekly drug testing
by a probation officer and visiting with a counselor.

Thompson notes that "a massive staffing team'' that includes a certified
substance abuse counselor and representatives from the school system,
recommend what happens to the juvenile, depending on the extent, or lack,
of progress.

Drug testing is held every other week in phase two of the juvenile's
progression, then once a month in phase three.

As Judge Baker observes, "It's an intense testing program. The juvenile has
to be motivated, and their parents have to be motivated.''

But, the Judge says, if the juvenile successfully completes the program the
charges are ultimately dismissed.

On the negative side, failure to abide by the three-phase program can
result in repercussions for the juvenile and the parents as well, the judge
says.

"This is a three-strikes program. Everything from weekend detention to
electronic monitoring to eventually sentencing could take place if the
juvenile fails,'' Baker says. "Failure in this program could lead to a
stiffer detention sentence.''

Baker feels that the program fills a need.

"I've seen parents come before this court time and time again with a child
that needed serious help with addiction. This is an aggressive step to
bring all of these agencies together to help the family.''

At its best, Baker says, he hopes the program will allow these troubled
youths to "rise above these addictions . . . and take accountability for
their actions.''

The Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Court is an inspired idea and Judge Baker and
local leaders are to be commended for implementing and supporting it.
Programs like this are an innovative way to address the special problems of
juveniles at a time when it is sorely needed.

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