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Sunday, June 18, 2006

Ind. Courts - Judge embraces new tools; problem-solving alternative courts

"Judge embraces new tools" is the heading to a story today by Joe Gerrety in the Lafayette Journal and Courier. Some quotes:

Forensic Diversion is a three-year court program that combines intensive monitoring, frequent drug screens, mental health and drug treatment, and career and life skills counseling to nonviolent felony drug offenders who otherwise would face prison sentences.

In addition to Forensic Diversion, [Judge Don Johnson, of Tippecanoe Superior Court 1] in recent years has taken a leadership role in creating a re-entry program for Indiana Department of Correction inmates who return to Tippecanoe County, a cocaine and methamphetamine program being supervised by Judge Thomas Busch, and a misdemeanor mental health diversion program.

Johnson said the changing nature of criminal behavior in his 15 years on the bench has necessitated a different approach.

"Meth and cocaine have had a tremendous effect on the criminal justice system," Johnson said. "The courts need to come up with creative alternatives, and the idea is to get the right people behind bars."

The so-called "problem-solving courts" have involved a collaboration of efforts from the prosecutor's office, the public defender's office, mental health advocacy groups, mental health and drug treatment programs, Community Corrections, the local police drug task force and even Purdue University pharmacy experts and Lafayette Transitional Housing. * * *

Chief deputy prosecutor John Meyers, one of the early driving forces behind the Forensic Diversion concept, said it was difficult to get Johnson interested in the details of the program early on.

"He's a big-picture guy," Meyers said. But about six months into the planning, Meyers said, Johnson began taking a hands-on approach. Now, two years after its creation, the program has Johnson's handprints all over it.

Earlier this week, Johnson was handing Forensic Diversion clients free copies of Nickel and Dimed, a book by Barbara Ehrenreich that chronicles her experience trying to get by while working full-time at low-wage jobs. It's been adopted locally as this summer's One Great Read.

"People all over the community are going to be reading it," Johnson told the clients, many of whom are working low-wage jobs while they work on their addiction issues. "You're a part of the community, so I want you to read it."

Meyers, who has practiced criminal law in Indiana for 33 years, called problem-solving courts "one of the most important developments in the criminal justice system in my time."

"Judge Johnson has been the pivotal person in the evolution of these courts in this community," he said.

The story includes a valuable side-bar showing the problem-solving court programs underway in Tippecanoe County:
Adult courts

Drug Court: Created by Judge Gregory Donat and currently supervised by Judge Michael Morrissey, the 18-month program combines frequent drug screens, treatment, court monitoring and counseling for nonviolent addicts.

Forensic Diversion: Supervised by Judge Don Johnson, the program -- geared toward felony offenders with co-occurring mental health and addiction problems -- takes up to three years and combines frequent drug screens, treatment, court monitoring and counseling in lieu of a prison sentence.

Cocaine-Methamphetamine Program: An offshoot of Forensic Diversion supervised by Judge Thomas Busch, the program is geared toward criminal defendants with cocaine or methamphetamine addictions who have fully suspendable sentences or are eligible to serve their sentences in Community Corrections. It uses a combination of therapeutic and court interventions to move offenders to more stable lifestyles.

Re-entry Program: Supervised by Judge Don Johnson and expected to be under way by July 1, the program will work with the Indiana Department of Correction to monitor state inmates who will be released from prison up to two years early through a sentence modification. Offenders will be monitored and provided with self-improvement programs and job skills and family values training. Mental health and addiction issues also will be addressed.

Juvenile courts

Drug Treatment Court: The program, supervised by juvenile court Judge Loretta Rush, deals with juvenile addictions through frequent court appearances, drug screens and treatment focused on the entire family.

Truancy Court: Supervised by Rush, the program deals with children who have violated their school attendance policy and have been referred for prosecution. Repeat violators and their parents are brought before Rush to determine sanctions and services. The program has been operating since late fall.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 18, 2006 08:06 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts