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Drug court is last chance for some Currently, 58 people are hoping the combination of treatment and probation they receive through the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Adult Drug Court will lead to criminal charges being dropped and help them return to society as contributing members. Since the majority of his regular docket is drug-related, Chesterfield County Circuit Court Judge F. G. Rockwell III said he is very invested in the people who participate in drug court. Many have never held a real job or paid taxes, Rockwell noted. It's about breaking habits to give people back a sense of worth. They don't want to be junkies. But between them and a positive outcome is hard work. To be selected for drug court, they must meet certain criteria and be recommended by prosecutor Larry Hogan. "I am the gatekeeper. Nobody comes in unless I say so," said Hogan who has been doing this type of work for 25 years. Chesterfield's program began in 2000. All drug court participants, including those who graduate and those who do not, are tracked after the program to see if they have new convictions. Three years after leaving the program, less than a quarter of the drug court graduates and a third of the terminated clients had a new conviction compared to over two-thirds of the comparison group. The drug court program is unique in that it involves both treatment and the criminal justice system. Hogan admits the program is hard. But, "you're not going to get anywhere in this world without hard work," he added. The program has four levels. For the first one or two levels, the clients will meet with the judge, prosecutor, two probation officers, four therapists, two police officers and a defense attorney once a week. It is mandatory, and every violation of the rules has a consequence - even if they're just one minute late. Individuals pass through each level at different rates depending on the progress they make. The client must be employed at least 30 hours a week, stay drug free, attend two AA meetings a week and keep current on restitution payments. He or she must attend treatment sessions weekly, go to individual therapy and progress to group therapy. These education/therapy groups emphasize relapse prevention, life skills and gender-specific issues. Services like marriage and family counseling are available. The drug court administrator, Tara Kunkel, said the difference between this program and others is the judicial involvement - the relationship between the client and the judge is like that between a parent and child - and the amount of coordination among all parties so nothing slips between the cracks. The people most successful in drug court are in their 30s, have some maturity, have experienced some losses in their lives and are developmentally ready. Those with children perform better, said Kunkel. Those on cocaine do well, she noted, but heroin addiction is a challenge. Hogan agreed and added, "They will lie to anyone anytime. I would take 100 cocaine addicts over one heroin." But Hogan takes what comes, and said, "I embrace [working with] heroin addicts." "This is the best program you can find anywhere," said Hogan. "We're going to be your mama and daddy - provide structure you've never had. If you stumble, we're here to pick you up." Hogan noted that the "Commonwealth's got it great both ways." It is either success or failure, which brings with it a minimum mandatory six months in jail. To read a recent drug court success story, see page 5.
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