BY ALAN RIQUELMY
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While many courtrooms can be said to have a revolving door, organizers of the Muscogee County Drug Court hope that stops being the case for some in Columbus.
Today is the first session of Drug Court — an alternative to the prosecution, sentencing and prison time many defendants face in Muscogee County Superior Court. It’s different from a typical criminal court because those who plead guilty don’t go to prison — they go through treatment while out of jail.
And if they successfully complete the program, their convictions can be wiped clean.
“They call it ‘the courtroom drama,’ ” Judge Frank Jordan Jr. said of the weekly court procedures. “The participants all come and see who’s failing and who’s complying. That is a key thing — coming to court and either being praised or sanctioned by the judge.”
Muscogee County already has other “accountability courts” such as the Environmental, Mental Health and Juvenile Drug Court, but this is the first adult Drug Court for Columbus.
It starts with a referral to Larry Love, the Drug Court’s coordinator. He examines potential candidates for the court and sends them to Assistant District Attorney David Helmick, who is the program’s gatekeeper for the district attorney’s office, Jordan said.
If the district attorney thinks someone is a good candidate — a first or second drug offense that isn’t violent or related to trafficking or gangs — that person has the option to enter Drug Court.
Those who want to enter Drug Court sign a contract and pledge to remain drug-free. They also agree to attend a series of drug treatment classes and 12-step meetings over several months.
And, of course, the weekly Drug Court sessions.
“For example, someone signs the contract and enters Drug Court,” Jordan said. “Since then, he’s remained drug-free, attended all the meetings and he’s in compliance. If that’s the case, he gets a round of applause, or the judge comes down and shakes his hand. There’s some reward — positive reinforcement.”
Those who aren’t in compliance, the ones who fail a drug test or miss meetings, are punished. They may have to spend a weekend in jail or sit in court all day.
Drug Court is paid for by the participants. Attendees pay $500 over the first six weeks in administrative costs and $700 over six months for the Rediscovery Outpatient Substance Abuse Clinic.
Participants start out with two two-hour treatment classes and four one-hour 12-step meetings a week. As they progress through the program, participants’ classes and meetings become fewer and the payments become smaller.
The last six months of the program are less rigorous than the first, and the successful completion of Drug Court means the county has one less drug user.
Jordan said the court saves taxpayers the cost of prosecution and supervisory probation. The families of drug users will see that addicts are improving their lives.
“Those are the intangible but real effects that are hard to quantify and measure,” the judge said.
Jordan isn’t sure how many people will go through Drug Court. He said other courts have advised him and his team to take it slow.
Macon has about 150 people in its Drug Court, Jordan said. Glynn County has 270.
While the first session of Drug Court is scheduled for today, regular sessions will be held 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
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