Although the Augusta Judicial Circuit's drug court is still in its infancy, those involved give it rave reviews, and it has attracted the attention of the Medical College of Georgia.
When the local drug court was established last year, it followed a national model. It seeks to show addicts the path to sobriety and keep them on it through counseling, peer group support, and a measured response of punishments and rewards depending on conduct.
Participants are culled from those facing felony criminal charges in Superior Courts in Richmond and Columbia counties. The first participants entered the program in July.
Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard Jr. volunteered to oversee the program and is one of its biggest fans.
Within a few weeks he hopes to add another element, thanks to the interest from the Medical College of Georgia's Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior.
"Many people who use and abuse drugs are masking mental illness," Judge Blanchard said. Having MCG psychiatry residents on hand to learn and to help is a win-win situation, he said.
It's estimated that 17 to 23 percent of the people in jails and prisons across the country have mental illnesses, he said.
Since the conception of a local drug court, Judge Blanchard has spoken of a future mental health court. By keeping watch over those with mental illness who have come into contact with the judicial system, the cycle of incarceration could be broken.
"It's an issue that has to be addressed," Judge Blanchard said.
Peter F. Buckley, professor and chair of the MCG Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, said the drug court offers students a great training opportunity to see addiction recovery.
The students train for four years in general psychiatry. The school has applied to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for accreditation for a new fellowship in forensic psychiatry, Dr. Buckley said. It will prepare doctors for work that crosses the psychiatric and legal fields.
For drug court, the psychiatry residents can assess, treat and provide follow-up care for anyone in need of psychiatric services.
Those in the drug court meet regularly as a group with Judge Blanchard. With success and sobriety, they pass through stages with the goal of graduation. Mistakes can mean repeating stages or serving jail time, the judge said.
So far he has revoked only one person who was caught selling drugs. He was ejected from the program and sentenced to a 10-year prison term, Judge Blanchard said.
Two other people quit, but 39 others are active, working and trying to stay straight.
"Based on the numbers, I think that drug court is succeeding," District Attorney Ashley Wright said.
Participants are sober and stable and not committing other crimes, she said.
Of the 20,245 people who entered Georgia prisons last year, nearly 65 percent said they were addicted to drugs, according to the Department of Corrections' annual report on 2008. Also, 45.15 percent had been incarcerated before.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS
Augusta Judicial Circuit Drug Court:
Active participants -- 39
In jail serving sanctions -- 2
Missed mandatory counseling or group meetings -- 4
Stopped attending and face arrest -- 2
In yearlong in-house treatment centers -- 2
Revoked and sentenced to prison time -- 1
To enter program in May -- 3
Comments
Inasmuch as Georgia Department of Corrections prison mental health units are bursting at the seams, an effective non-incarceration model for protecting The Georgia Public from mentally ill criminals is a necessity. KUDOS and GOOD LUCK to Judge Blanchard and Dr. Buckley in their innovative collaboration!
I have been an advocate for Drug court for many years. I lived in Rochester NY and worked in the Chemical Dependency field. We had a center that those convicted in drug court would have to complete. It keeps the non-violent, first offenders out of jail and in a rehab program to get the help that they need.
What I liked about the program in rochester is that you might have a CEO of a major corp and a person that hasn't worked in 2 months sitting next to each other. The CEO would deny being like the other people, but would come to see that they are all the same.
I do hope that this program works out. WTG MCG and Judge Blanchard
stay outta my life, government. i don't need a baby sitter.
drug court is optional, you have to request to be considered a candidate.............so treerock, it is either probation, prison or drug court..........seems like a no-brainer if you have a "true" substance abuse problem.
my point is that government should stay out of my body. seems like a no-brainer in america, home of the free.
Treerock, although I definetly believe in limited government, laws are made by the people for the people and the majority of people do not believe illegal drug use should be legal. Even in Amsterdam where marijuana is legal, other drugs have continued to prevail and it is certainly noticed within society. Either way, that is a different subject as drugs are illegal here and most drug users and their families appreciate the opportunity to go sober vs. going to jail. Helping to educate and rehabilitate is far superior than incarceration. This drug court is providing positive opportunities for those addicted on drugs and helping to free up our over-crowded jails which should be for violent criminals. Also, as you see in the article, drugs lead to many other crimes so everyone we are able to reach prior to committing other crimes is a life saved. Way to go Judge Blanchard, Dr. Buckley and MCG - Keep up the great work.
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