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Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 10, 2004
Contact:
Christina Deibel or Linda Weyandt at (330) 535-8116
Akron Municipal Drug Court goes into the community to recognize ninth year of helping people beat drug addiction
Akron Municipal Drug Court is going into the community to celebrate its ninth year of assisting people in overcoming a drug addiction. Akron Municipal Judge Alison McCarty will hold a special session of Drug Court today, Thursday, June 10, 2004, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at East Akron Community House, 550 South Arlington Street in Akron.
"I am hoping that bringing Drug Court into the community will make people more aware of the many benefits it offers," Judge McCarty said. "When offenders complete the Drug Court program, incarceration costs are reduced or eliminated; the offender continues to earn wages and pay taxes; the substance-abuse problem is treated; and re-arrests decrease significantly."
Since its inception in 1995, Akron Municipal Drug Court has celebrated the successes of 563 people who have completed the intensive, one-year program. Today's special session of drug court will recognize current graduates and include regular drug court proceedings.
Drug Court is a specialty court given the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through intensive judicial supervision, case management, mandatory substance abuse treatment and drug testing, and graduated sanctions and incentives. A minimum of one year's participation is required of all offenders. Upon successful completion of the program, offenders have their case dismissed.
With more than 17 years of experience in working in the criminal justice system, Judge McCarty has seen thousands of cases that involve drugs. "I have talked with children who would do anything to have their parents not use drugs. I have heard from mothers who grieve over the murder of their children because of drugs. I have seen people destroy their careers over drugs. Early intervention from a program like Drug Court could prevent some of these tragedies," Judge McCarty said.
In order to be eligible for Akron Municipal's Drug Court, an offender must meet the following criteria: no more than one prior felony conviction; no more than five prior contempt charges; no previous arrest or conviction for drug trafficking or distribution of drugs; and no violent misdemeanant criminal history in the past five years or violent felony in the past 10 years. The arresting police department and prosecutor must also agree that the client is appropriate for the program. All drug offenders are screened by the Oriana House Admissions Department staff for program eligibility. Participants in the program are required to undergo frequent drug testing - initially 2-3 times a week; attend regular meetings with a case worker - initially 2-5 times a week; participate in mandatory treatment; and appear before the judge regularly. To graduate from Drug Court, an offender must complete all program requirements and test free of drugs and alcohol for a minimum of 90 days prior to program completion.
Oriana House conducts recidivism studies of programs. Its latest research of Drug Court showed that only 10% of all who completed the program within a specific year were convicted of a new drug offense within one year of leaving the program.
Currently there are almost 1,500 drug courts in existence or being planned in the United States. Because drug court programs test defendants for drug use on a regular basis, the use of drugs by defendants is substantially lower than drug use reported by defendants in regular courts. Drug use by participants who graduate from drug court programs is eliminated altogether for most participants.
By coordinating the efforts of numerous community agencies and resources, drug court is a very cost-effective alternative to incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders. It's estimated that of every $1 spent on drug court, $10 is saved in incarceration and court related costs.
The Akron Municipal Drug Court is a collaborative effort between the Akron Police Department; the Akron Prosecutor's Office; Oriana House; the Legal Defender Office; the Akron Municipal Probation Department; the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Board; Summit County Courts; and the Summit County Executive's Office.
Editor's Note: Individuals who have recently graduated from Drug Court and Drug Court alumni may be available for interviews with the media immediately following the graduation. Additional parking for the special session of Drug Court is available at the Arlington Church of God. For more information, contact Christina Deibel or Linda Weyandt at Oriana House, 330-535-8116.
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