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Drug courts changing lives locally
Published 3:27pm Saturday, May 30, 2009After Tony Johnson got his third DWI in June 2007 he decided he’d had enough of court appearances, jail time and fines. It was time to make a change.
So the Vergas man chose to participate in a new Otter Tail County program dedicated to fighting alcohol abuse and improving public safety: DWI Court.
Immediately after starting the program in March 2008, Johnson, 28, was subject to random drug tests, visits from probation staff and a 9 p.m. curfew. But in the year since, Johnson has stayed sober, retrieved his driver’s license and even started his own construction business. Now he’s scheduled to complete his DWI Court requirements by August and become the program’s first graduate.
Johnson’s story is the kind celebrated by court and rehabilitation professionals across the country as part of National Drug Court Month in May. Drug courts, which encompass several kinds of substance abuse courts, date back 20 years nationally. Otter Tail County has two drug courts: DWI Court, which began in March 2008, and Family Dependency Treatment Court, which followed in July.
DWI Court is an 18-month program that may be entered into voluntarily or as a result of a court order. Participants undergo greater supervision in the first several months, with fewer drug tests, court appearances and field visits later. Most are repeat offenders who have been diagnosed with substance dependence.
Tria Mann is the coordinator for Otter Tail County’s drug courts and has witnessed the successes of Johnson and others. Among the 19 participants in DWI Court, some have purchased houses, secured health insurance for their families and begun new jobs since entering into the program, Mann said. One person progressed from temporary employment to a permanent position to multiple raises over the course of several months.
That doesn’t mean participation in DWI Court is fun or easy. The first two phases of the program are typically the most difficult, as individuals complete their primary treatment and attempt to change sometimes long-standing behavior. Those who do not comply with program requirements may be subject to sanctions including jail time.
Some participants have relapsed and drunk again, Mann said, though no one has gotten behind the wheel.
“In 14 months, we have not had one of our individuals drink and drive again,” she said. “Even those who’ve had slips, they’ve chosen not to drive.”
Participants offer each other encouragement and hold one another accountable, Mann said. Depending on an individual’s phase in the program, a person may need to come to court once a week to once a month to talk about their jobs, families and progress. Judge Barbara Hanson leads both the DWI and Family Dependency Treatment courts.
Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is a 12 to 18-month program involving abuse, neglect and dependency cases in which parental substance abuse is a primary factor. According to Mann, a team of judges, attorneys, child protection workers and treatment providers assist participants in becoming chemical-free while assuring the safety and well-being of children. Five mothers are currently in the program, with the first graduation scheduled for September.
Otter Tail County’s drug courts are funded by the county and by a federal grant through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The hope is to extended the hours of county probation staff to allow for more participants in the program, Mann said, though the county’s funding is in question until the governor’s budget is released.
