COUNTY TO LAUNCH FELONY DRUG COURT

The Misdemeanor Drug Court Started Up in 2000.

CANANDAIGUA - Ontario County's felony-level drug court is expected to be up
and running within a month.

The team planning the court met Thursday with representatives of the state
Office of Court Administration, presenting its plan and getting approval to
start taking participants.

"We anticipate that happening in early June," said County Court Judge Craig
J. Doran, a team member and one of several people who attended
state-sponsored drug court training in January.

In the court, defendants charged with non-violent felonies will plead
guilty and sign a contract, agreeing to stay off drugs (and submit to
frequent testing), as well as live up to several other requirements,
including working on their education and/or holding down a job.

Doran said the court is especially timely - given the county's financial
crisis - because it's intended to ensure that people break their
addictions, stop committing crimes, stay out of jail and become "productive
citizens."

"Many of us who were skeptical at the beginning realize now that we're not
being softer on them. We're being harder on them, in a more appropriate
way," the judge said.

"If they're given this opportunity and they flunk out, it's quite likely
that the sanction will be far more serious than what they would have
received at the beginning of the case," he added.

The Finger Lakes Drug Court, which handles misdemeanor cases and is based
in Canandaigua City Court, started up in 2000. Its first "graduation" was
held in February, and there are currently 25 participants from throughout
the county.

Judge Stephen Aronson - who presides over the court - is a member of the
felony drug court team. He said that over the next month, the team will
continue working out the logistics of how the two courts can work together
and make best use of available resources.

At the same time, those involved with the courts are wondering how planned
layoffs at the county level could affect them. County departments that take
part in the program include probation, the substance abuse treatment
program and the District Attorney's Office.

"It's a challenge we'll have to meet," Aronson said of the possible cuts.

The D.A.'s Office is already short-staffed. Due to budget constraints, it
hasn't been able to fill a vacancy in a full-time assistant D.A.'s
position, created by a resignation last summer.

In January, District Attorney R. Michael Tantillo told the county's public
safety committee that his staff might not be able to take part in a felony
drug court - which can't happen without them - because of the increased
demands it'll create.

"It's still a concern," Tantillo said this week, adding that for now, he
may just have to try and limit the number of people who enter the program.

"We'll have to be selective," he said. "I'm not going to divert resources
from the violent crimes we're prosecuting."

A typical felony case involves about four appearances in court, Tantillo
explained, but if a person is enrolled in drug court for a year and makes
weekly appearances, it'll be more like 52. That's how many times the
prosecutor would have to be in court for that person, as well.

Tantillo said Doran has applied for grant money which may help pay for a
prosecutor to meet the demands of the felony level court. In the meantime,
he said, he fully supports the program.

"There's definitely a place for this court," he said.

Doran agreed.

"I've seen a number of cases come through I wish I could have referred to
drug court, and I'm sure other folks have felt the same way," he said.
"It's the right thing to do."