Message from the President

Transcription

1 April/May Newsletter 2012 Message from the President Dear TADCP Members, I hope that you are all making a special effort to celebrate National Drug Court Month. NADCP has just completed a Motorcycle Rally to celebrate National Drug Court Month. I hope that your court was able to commemorate National Drug Court Month in some form or fashion to celebrate the hard work that we do. I am on my way to the 18th Annual National Drug Training Conference in Nashville Tennessee. The theme for the conference is Where Accountability Meets Compassion. The skill building workshops appear to be informative and if proven in years past, the most current, cutting edge research on Drug Courts that exists. I understand that in these lean budget times that some of you were not able to attend the conference this year. In an effort to try to keep everyone informed of any updates or new information discussed at this years conference, I would like to set up a conference call for the Association. I would ask those of us who will be in Nashville, to be prepared to discuss the conference on the call and debrief those who did not come I will be scheduling the conference call and sending notice as to the date and time for anyone to be able to call in and hear about any updates or new information. You will also be able to ask any questions that you may have. I would like all of us to shared the knowledge gained while in Nashville. I would also like to remind those of you that will be in Nashville that we have scheduled our TADCP meeting for Friday June 2, 2012, to be held in the Ryman Studio HI at 12:30pm. Be Safe. Sincerely, Judge Lela D. Mays 1

2 Jefferson County Drug Intervention Drug Court On Wednesday, March 21, 2012 the Jefferson County Drug Intervention (JCDI) Drug Court sponsored a drug awareness and stop school bullying initiative with the assistance of Golden Glove Champion and undefeated Mixed Martial Arts fighter Jose Ceja. This event was held at the Salvation Army for approximately 75 children from the Boys and Girls Club ranging in ages from six to fifteen years. Jose is a current pre-trial JCDI participant who will complete the program in a few months. He shared with the kids his struggles while attempting to reach his life long dream of becoming a champion fighter and productive citizen. He started using alcohol and drugs at age 13 and has battled many hardships ranging from homelessness to a gunshot wound to the loss of the support of family and friends once he started changing his criminal lifestyle. With the help of JCDI, his trainer Noe Beltran, and his personal perseverance, Jose has been able to maintain a sober lifestyle for the last year. He is committed to becoming the next MMA world champ and knows he must continue with a sober lifestyle in order to help meet the challenges of the vigorous and demanding training it takes to become a champion. Jose put together a video of his Mixed Martial Arts debut to show to the children. They cheered for him throughout the bout and the atmosphere was filled with excitement. The video was followed by a town meeting style setting where the kids were able to ask questions about his personal struggles and the tragedy of his drug addiction. Questions were asked by all ages; for example, an eight year old girl who questioned what to do when someone around you is using drugs? Also, a twelve year old boy asked, How do you get mentally ready for your fights and are you scared to be defeated? One of the most impacting statements for those of us who work in probation was made prior to Jose s presentation. When asked by probation staff what the kids knew about probation a six year old girl responded a place to go get help when you have anger problems. All questions were answered as they related to fighting, addiction, and dealing with the problems of bullying. Ceja explained how his fighting is a regulated sport and should only be imitated in a controlled sporting event while warning that street conflicts should be defused by talking and avoiding them at all cost. This event was both educational and heartwarming to both the staff and the children. JCDI staff, Alumni, and participants are currently working towards community awareness of the ongoing fight against addiction and how the program is helping those with the disease to maintain a sober lifestyle while becoming productive citizens. Check out the 409Now Jose Ceja interview on YouTube following his Golden Glove championship to listen to some of the challenges he has overcome. 3

3 Dragonfly: New deadly designer drug By: Brandy Aguilar, Special Projects Phoenix: A new designer drug called Dragonfly has sent several young people to the hospital across the country. It s perfectly legal and it s also incredibly dangerous. As long as I got my marijuana feel or high, to me it was OK, Randal Smith said. Smith is addicted to spice. It s a synthetic drug that mimics marijuana. It is just as strong as marijuana, if not stronger, Smith continued. The 34-year-old has been smoking it for the last two years. But when he hit rock bottom, Smith sought treatment at Journey Healing Centers in Scottsdale. It s becoming easier and easier for this savy generation of kids to get their hands on these drugs. Dr. Ravi Chandiramani said. Chandiramani is the center s corporate medical director. Earlier this year the Drug Enforcement Administration put fake pot products like spice and bath salts on its emergency banned list, but now there is a new designer drug emerging called Dragonfly. It was actually manufactured as a research chemical in rats, believe it or not, but somehow people have got their hands on it mostly through the Internet. Chandiraani said. It acts like LSD so they use it for the hallucinate properties and what we know is it causes a really long trip. The doctor said it can come in a pill form or blotters. Blotters are where a piece of paper is soaked in the drug and then put under the tongue. It is something that has caused people to find their way into the emergency room and it s very highly toxic, even in very small doses, Chandiramani said. Dr. Frank Lovecchio with Banner Poison Center said they ve treated patients who have taken similar types of drugs. No one knows the proper dose, so the best thing to do is stay away from these medications and drugs LoVecchio said. 4

4 Legacy Family Drug Court The Kickoff Reception for Dallas County s first family drug court took place on May 24, A courtroom full of Judges, volunteers and Attorneys gathered on the fourth floor in the George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building to launch the Legacy Family Court of Dallas County (LFC). The reception was a great success. In addition to the large turnout, there was a giving tree with coupons to enable supporters to make donations to support the new court s operational expenses, speeches by the Presiding Judge of Legacy Court, Christine Colie, Judge Tena Callahan of the 302nd District Court, the parent court of the Legacy Family Court, and a moving testimony by a graduate of another Family Drug Court, which pointed up both the need for, and the positive results, of a successful Family Drug Court. For all it s success, the reception was the result of a great deal of work and effort by a small group of community partners, including judges, attorneys, Child Protective Services (CPS) social workers, CASA staffers and child advocates, drug treatment providers and other service providers volunteers who had worked tirelessly over the past several years to establish the court, and by a core group of dedicated attorneys who formed the Legacy Court Foundation to help fund the new court. The Legacy Family Court follows in the footsteps of Family Drug Courts in other counties in Texas. Family Drug Courts have in common the idea that, since a significant percentage of CPS cases involve at least one parent with a substance abuse problem, support for the entire family is a non-adversarial, collaborative setting which concentrates on substance abuse treatment, intensive case management, and accountability can be much more successful than the adversarial model. Parents who participate in a Family Drug Court do so on a voluntary basis, with the realization that, although the requirements and accountability are stringent, the possibilities of regaining their children and changing their lives for the better are both real and attainable. Family Drug Court results in other jurisdictions showed that children whose parents were involved in these courts spent less time in out-of-home care that children whose parents were in the regular CPS court system, were more likely to be reunited with their parents and that the parents had a higher rate of treatment completion than their non drug court counterparts. A welcome side effect of the success of treatment has been that parents who are successful in treatment and rehabilitation aspects of the program not only become effective parents but are much less likely to have future children enter the CPS system. In 2006, shortly after Judge Tena Callahan was elected to the 302nd District Court bench, she was approached about starting a Drug Court. At the time, Dallas County was the largest County in Texas without a Family Drug Court, although the county had several criminal related courts which dealt with substance abuse issues. While the idea of the Family Drug Court was enthusiastically endorsed by Judge Callahan, practical problems were formidable. The proposed curt would have to be self funding, personnel would have to be volunteers until both grant applications and fund raising efforts were successful, as a specialty court, the LFC would have to be authorized by the County Commissioners, Courtroom and office space would have to be secured, and District Attorneys, Public Defenders and private attorneys seeking appointments; would have to be trained in unfamiliar collaborate practice models. Over time, many of these problems were solved, and great progress was made on others. A dedicated group of volunteer attorneys formed The Legacy Court Foundation, and applied for (501c3) status to fund the court. The Family Law section of the Dallas Bar Association make the LFC the sole beneficiary of both its 2011 and 2012 Golf tournament fund raisers. Judge Christine Collie, Associate Judge in the 302nd District Court, volunteered to preside over the new court, in addition to her already hectic schedule. A volunteer grant writer, attorney Katie Flowers Sammler, began applying for both public and private grants. At least one grant has been received and others are pending. 5

5 Purchase a Membership You may join the TADCP by paying online or by downloading our membership application and mailing it to us. Regular Membership Any person who is a professional associated with a particular Drug Court in Texas or with the Drug Court movement in Texas, or who otherwise is involved in the administration of justice in Texas may become a Regular member upon the payment of dues. Regular members may vote, hold office and serve on committees. $36.00 Associate Membership Any consultant or vendor, or other person interested in a particular Drug Court in Texas or with the Drug Court movement in Texas may become an Associate member upon the payment of dues. Associate members may serve committees; however, they shall not hold office and shall not vote. $36.00 Graduate Membership Any graduate of a particular Drug Court in Texas may become a Graduate member upon the payment of dues. Graduate members may serve on committees; however, they shall not hold office and shall not vote. $27.00 Retired Membership Upon retirement, any Regular member in good standing is eligible for this class of membership upon the payment of dues. Retired members may vote and serve on committees, but they shall not hold office. $27.00 Sustaining Membership Sustaining Members: Any person or persons, firm or corporation interested in furthering the goals of this organization is eligible for this class of membership. Sustaining members may serve on committees; however they shall not vote and shall not hold office. $ Organizational Membership An Organizational Membership is comprised of a group of 10-regular members who are professionals associated with a particular Drug Court in Texas or with the Drug Court movement in Texas, or who otherwise are involved in the administration of justice in Texas. Organizational members may vote, hold office and serve on committees. $

6 Articles for the Newsletter I would like to feature a different Drug Court each month. If you send me any information on your Court and any pictures I will write the article for you. Tell me when your program started, how many are in your program, how many have graduated, and include any special programs or projects. My address is written below or you can call me at (903) Thanks, Debbie Fesperman Communications What s happening in your court? If you want to share with us any events or accomplishments in your Drug Court please to: debfes1@aol.com 10