OFFICIALS SAY DRUG COURT WORKS

DALTON, Ga. -- If one fails, all feel the pain, the judge said.

Superior Court Judge Jack Partrain says that's because participants work
together in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit drug court, an experimental
program he started Feb. 12.

The drug court takes first-time felony drug offenders who want to stop
using drugs and places them in an intensive, two-year outpatient program
instead of the county jail.

Drug court is a team effort, Judge Partain said.

It's comprised of officials from the sheriff's office, the Dalton Police
Department, the district attorney's office, the public defender's office,
treatment staff members, drug court coordinator George Shirilla and Judge
Partain.

"This has been roughly a two-year process," Mr. Shirilla said.

Volunteer participants learn in phases how to live without the need for
illicit drugs. They undergo daily group counseling sessions, three times
weekly probation appointments, weekly sessions with Judge Partain, and
multiple substance abuse meetings. The number of meetings are reduced as
the participants progress, Judge Partain said.

Essays on issues of trust, partnerships and other topics are required as
homework and are discussed during counseling sessions. Those who don't turn
in the paperwork receive community service time, officials said.

Cathy began participating in the program one week ago.

Her probation officer, Charles Hayes, explained to team members in a
staffing meeting prior to the court session that Cathy had failed the most
recent drug test after using methamphetamine.

Instead of sending her to prison or kicking her out of the program, Judge
Partain explained to Cathy that consequences follow actions.

"You had a great start, but you had a problem over the weekend. Actually,
there were a couple of problems over the weekend," Judge Partain said. "You
have to get your priorities in order. You have to manage your disease of
addiction."

Judge Partain ordered Cathy to spend two days in jail, and upon her
release, attend the next group counseling session. As the judge spoke,
Cathy shook her head, crossed her arms and looked at the floor. Tears
welled in the eyes of three other group members as Cathy was ordered back
to jail.

"What happens to one happens to all," Judge Partain said about the group
response. "It's an interesting dynamic."

Angela, 37, began the program earlier this year following a brush with
death involving cocaine and alcohol, she said.

"(The program) saved my life. I almost died in the intensive care unit,"
she said.

Angela, like other group members, has formed trusting relationships with
other group members. When another member, Ron, decided to quit cooperating
with the demands of the program, another participant took him aside and
warned him to shape up. Later, Ron was sent to a detention center for three
months, counselor Dave Thompson said.

"The group was fine with it," Mr. Thompson said. "The group was in favor of
a pretty harsh sanction. He was told, "We are here to recover." It was
obvious what their feelings were: They didn't want to be dragged down by
his weight."

Participants range in age from their 20s to 40s. Some have as little as a
ninth-grade education, while one has a bachelor's degree.

Angela has had some college computer classes. She has been clean and sober
for 30 days.

"This will be the first time I've lived alone in 36 years," Angela said.
"It's been hard, but I'm doing OK."

Tanya, 32, entered the program Tuesday.

Dressed in a county issued striped orange jumpsuit, with her hands shackled
to her waist, Tanya's actions were described to her in court. She had been
caught with a crack cocaine pipe, a plastic baggy and other paraphernalia
while visiting a residence that was being searched.

Her choice was a minimum two years in prison or the program. She chose the
program.

She wept as she agreed to participate. "Thank you for helping me," she said.

Whitfield County's drug court is one of just a few in the state and about
700 nationwide, Mr. Shirilla said.

"The whole idea dates back to the late 1980s, when Janet Reno was a
district attorney in Florida. She determined that what we are doing in the
legal system was not as effective as we had hoped at the felony level," Mr.
Shirilla said.

The idea behind drug court is to make a former drug user a contributing
member of society instead of a financial burden, Mr. Shirilla said.

Conasauga Judicial Circuit drug court is funded by a government grant,
court funds, fines collected by the courts for drug abuse treatment
education and participant fees. Three first-time felony drug offenders are
interviewed weekly for possible enrollment in the program, and recidivism
is about 20 percent, Mr. Shirilla said.

"We built this from nothing, and it's coming along quite well," Judge
Partain said. "We are proud as we can be of the program participants.

"Drug court works. For every dollar the government spends on drug court,
the return is $10."