JUVENILE DRUG COURT MUCH-NEEDED PROGRAM

The local prevention and legal communities have had nothing but high praise
for the role the Daviess County drug court has played over the last two
years in helping to combat the area drug problem.

The program's effectiveness comes from its ability to address problems at
the root -- through providing treatment and changing environments -- and
not simply postponing the inevitable with incarceration.

In hopes of building upon this success, a team of 10 people is working to
institute a similar program for juveniles by early next year. Loosely based
on the adult program, a juvenile drug court has the potential to provide
immeasurable benefits to this community.

Those working on the project deserve a lot of credit for dedicating their
time and energy to a project that, as of now, is being put together on a
strictly volunteer basis. With money tight in Frankfort, it's unlikely
juvenile drug courts will receive state funds anytime soon. The group does,
however, plan to apply for a $500,000 grant to help pay for the project for
three years.

But there is clearly room for more in this community, both among the public
and local officials, to get behind the effort in some form or fashion.
Organizers are looking for volunteers who will spend at least one day a
week serving as a mentor to teen-agers.

The juvenile drug court offers the opportunity to solve a problem before it
becomes an addiction. Teen-agers between the ages of 13 and 17 who are
charged with nonviolent offenses related to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, are
placed in a treatment program, rather than sent to a detention center.

Those admitted to the program will be required to complete a minimum
nine-month treatment that includes mentoring, intense supervision, a
12-week support group for parents and follow-up visits after completion.
Consider that a report released last week -- though some information was
incomplete -- noted 28 percent of local teen-agers say they have tried
marijuana, and nearly 50 percent say they have drank alcohol. This doesn't
include other drugs such as ecstasy, Lortab and Xanax that prevention
specialists say is also being used.

If this area is to make a significant dent in the drug problem, those
numbers need to be dealt with. There is significant evidence that sending
teen-agers to juvenile detention centers is not the best way to address the
issue.

Studies show that, in some areas, the recidivism rate for juveniles is as
high as 70 percent. That means that seven out of 10 juveniles who spend
time in a detention center will end up behind bars again at some point. It
makes sense when one considers the environment of any jail. If there is way
to get kids help while still making them accountable, and without exposing
them to this environment, it needs to be explored.

Dedicated individuals have brought forth a much-needed idea, now community
support is needed to help make it a reality.