OC Register: "Is there a link between neighborhood rehab programs and petty crime in California?"

“People should be more concerned about liquor stores in their neighborhoods than drug treatment centers... [D]rug treatment centers do not impact communities any more than other commercial businesses."

The Orange County Register published an article this week on the rise of petty crime since the passage of Prop. 47 in November 2014 and possible links to the increase in drug treatment centers. The article describes the complexity of making this connection, including the lack of available data. According to Roxi Fyad, spokesperson for the Costa Mesa Police Department, “There is no statistical crime data gathered that traces back a crime to a sober living facility to show how these facilities impact crime.” 

Additionally, , promised prevention services to mitigate the effects of Prop. 47 never came through. As stated by Bernard Parks, the former Los Angeles police chief and city councilman, “They’ve been talking about all of these preventive programs that were going to be funded on the savings of all the money out of the state prison system. Find one dollar retrieved from the state prison system and invested in one of these preventive programs. It’s been a farce from the beginning.”

NADCP: National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts Released

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) announced the release of the National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts. NADCP's statement is below:

"[NADCP] is pleased to share that the new 'National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts' has been released by Children and Family Futures as part of its training and technical assistance agreement with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

This Strategic Plan provides a framework for a coordinated national strategy to enhance and expand the use of family drug courts to improve the outcomes for children and families affected by parental substance use disorders. The primary goals of the plan are to:

1) Improve the effectiveness of the existing family drug court network by assuring it operates with fidelity to the model;

2) Expand the reach of family drug courts to keep families together and reduce child maltreatment; and

3) Continue to build the evidence base about what works for family drug courts to improve outcomes for children and parents.

Developed with a diverse group of stakeholders, the Strategic Plan is pertinent to all policymakers, practitioners, researchers, foundations, and advocates committed to improving child welfare and substance use disorder treatment outcomes for children and parents.

NADCP CEO Carson Fox notes, 'Of the more than 400,000 children in foster care, the majority are there because of a parent or caregiver who is in need of treatment for alcohol or drugs. This plan lays out a pathway to ensure all children and families have access to effective, evidenced-based services that are proven to improve child welfare outcomes. It advances justice for children and families affected by substance use disorders in a way that the field has never done before.'"

Download the Strategic Plan here.

SF Examiner: "San Francisco drug arrests tumble"

An article in today's San Francisco Examiner describes a shift in local policing policies that has dramatically decreased the number of drug-related arrests in San Francisco and other Bay Area counties.  In San Francisco, drug-related arrests dropped from 9,832 in 2010 to 1,534 in 2012.

"Across The City, the push was 

to get the users into treatment, and treat [drugs] 

as a public health issue and not a criminal issue."  

-- San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr

San Francisco drug arrests tumble as police focus on serious and violent crime
by Chris Roberts

On his way out of City Hall on a recent evening, Police Chief Greg Suhr encountered a crime in progress — a man sitting on the steps of a basement entrance, syringe in hand. Suhr said he handled it in the way the Police Department currently deals with drug crimes.

"We disposed of the narcotics, and we had [the man] safely dispose of the syringe," the chief recalled Monday.

In other words, nobody was arrested and nobody went to jail for a nonviolent, low-level drug offense — the types of crimes increasingly seen as low-priority for law enforcement, by both the public and police.

Drug arrests are on a steep decline in the Bay Area and in San Francisco, where such arrests — for felonies and misdemeanors — have dropped 75 percent over the past five years, according to California Department of Justice data.

In The City in 2008, police made 9,832 drug-related arrests, 75 percent of which were felonies. In 2012, police made 1,534 such arrests, nearly all of which (1,403) were felonies.

A 2010 change in state law that made low-level marijuana possession an infraction rather than a misdemeanor has lowered arrest stats, but police say the arrest reduction is more due to staffing changes and a philosophical shift in law enforcement's approach to drugs.

Heather Fong was still the chief of police in 2008, the high-water mark for drug arrests over the past decade. Within two years, drug arrests had dropped by half.

When Suhr took over from Fong's successor, George Gascón, in April 2011 he inherited a police force 300 officers below its "full-strength" complement of 1,971. To devote more resources to serious, violent crimes, Suhr drastically downsized the narcotics unit — once 100 strong — to an unspecified smaller number of inspectors who now focus on trafficking, the chief said Monday.
The change appears to be for good. The department's old arrest-heavy approach "wasn't working," Suhr said.

"Across The City, the push was to get the users into treatment, and treat [drugs] as a public health issue and not a criminal issue," he said.

While no specific data is available to show how many arrestees now see treatment centers rather than jail cells, Suhr said nonviolent drug offenders are given the option to access services, including education.

Other Bay Area cities have seen similar drops. Oakland made 4,035 drug-related arrests in 2008, but that dropped to 1,071 in 2012. In San Jose, there were 6,217 such arrests in 2008 and 2,190 in 2012, according to Justice Department data.

The shift won praise from the Drug Policy Alliance think-tank and San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi.

"It's in line with what the public wants," Adachi said Friday. "The focus should be on violent, serious crimes."

A spokesman from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office noted that drug prosecutions had dropped 69 percent in four years.

Click here to view the article.

"In the Experience of Doubt, a Possible Cure for Alcoholism"

KQED's recent radio report highlights research that may lead to a cure for alcoholism.

In the Experience of Doubt, a Possible Cure for Alcoholism
Reported by Amy Standen

For many alcoholics, drinking is a compulsion. They know it’s ruining their lives, and yet they continue to drink.

A study out this month in the print version of Nature Neuroscience suggests that this phenomenon – the internal struggle against one’s better angels — may contain the seeds of a new treatment.

Click here to view or listen to the full report.

NADCP News: "Millions Around the World Learn that ‘Drug Courts Save’ During Special Edition of CNN’s Piers Morgan Live"

"Millions Around the World Learn that ‘Drug Courts Save’ 

During Special Edition of CNN’s Piers Morgan Live"

On Friday, CNN’s Piers Morgan Live devoted nearly ten minutes to talking Drug Courts in front of a worldwide audience of millions tuning in from over 200 countries. As guest host, All Rise Ambassador Matthew Perry chose to devote part of the show to Drug Courts, saying “there is a tremendous amount of hope and people can change. I want that message out there.” By the conclusion of the segment the message was loud and clear: Drug Courts are the most effective solution for treating seriously addicted offenders.

The segment featured NADCP CEO West Huddleston, who explained to the audience what Drug Courts are, how they work, and why they are successful. “75% of our graduates never see another pair of handcuffs…but that doesn’t tell the entire story. We cut crime in half compared to jail or prisons..and that saves tax payers a ton of money,” he said as pictures of Drug Courts in action flashed on the screen. Viewers were then introduced to one of the countless lives that have been saved by Drug Courts. Alby Zweig graduated from the Denver Drug Court in 1997 after nearly a decade addicted to heroin. He told viewers about how Drug Courts helped him get back all he had lost due to addiction. Zweig explained that after Drug Court he put himself through law school, became a Public Defender in the same office that represented him and was recently appointed Magistrate of the same Drug Court that saved his life.  Renowned treatment and recovery expert and CEO of Promises Treatment Centers Dr. David Sack was also on hand. Dr. Sack spoke one on one with Perry about addiction, and was a part of the panel discussion on Drug Courts.

Drug Court graduation featured in The Chronicle

The San Francisco Drug Court's most recent graduation was featured in The Chronicle on Sunday, November 11, 2012. The October 22 ceremony honored 21 Drug Court participants who participated in substance abuse treatment, came to court regularly, and turned their lives around. The following is a summary of their successes:

• 86% of graduates used drugs daily or multiple times per week when they entered Drug Court. Now, all are 100% drug free.
• 48% of graduates had no income when they entered Drug Court. Now 52% percent are employed and 100% have legal sources of income.
• 43% of graduates are enrolled in educational programs or vocational training, and another 29% are planning to enroll.
• 48% of graduates have reconnected or reunified with their children.

 

Judge Angela Bradstreet, left, and Demarris Evans, right, from the public defender's office, cheer at the end of the drug court graduation in San Francisco, Calif., Monday, October 22, 2012. Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle / SF

Drug court: Addicts kick habit, charges
By Marisa Lagos

Elley Fore could have been serving a life sentence in state prison. But instead, on a recent weekday, he found himself inside a packed San Francisco courtroom with tears in his eyes as he received a standing ovation.

He could see the police chief and public defender in the crowd, several deputy district attorneys and Superior Court Judge Angela Bradstreet. But it was the sight of his children, grandchild, fiancee and ex-wife that got to him.

For three decades Fore was addicted to crack cocaine, and he did a lot of things he wasn't proud of. But in 2010, police picked him up on a charge, drug possession with intent to sell, that was one too many under California's "three strikes and you're out" law. If convicted, he could be looking at 25 years to life behind bars.

Instead, the San Francisco district attorney's office threw him a lifesaver: drug court. The idea behind the 17-year-old program, for Fore and others like him, is to get clean in exchange for having charges dropped.

"I was not ready to stop using drugs," Fore, 50, admits now. "I wanted a 'Get out of jail free' card."
Fore underwent two months of treatment at the drug court's center, then completed a three-month residential program at one of dozens of private treatment centers that partner with the city. He relapsed but returned for help. It took him two years, instead of the typical one year, to complete the program, but he says it worked: He's been off drugs since Jan. 6, and the city was drug-testing him to be sure.

Click here to read the full article.

Veterans Treatment Courts Featured on 60 Minutes

This blog post features an email circulated by Justice for Vets and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals on October 15, 2012.

60 Minutes Hails Veterans Treatment Courts

Last night, 60 Minutes hailed Veterans Treatment Courts for providing ‘Justice for our Veterans’ in a story profiling the Harris County Veterans Treatment Court in Texas. Over thirteen million viewers tuned in for the gripping segment that told the story of several veterans who found redemption in Veterans Treatment Court after coming home and struggling to cope with substance abuse and trauma. “Every two weeks, the vet reports to the judge. Troublemakers are kicked out and sent to the regular probation system. But there haven't been many of those, only nine out of 100 vets so far,” said correspondent Scott Pelley. “Because of that, veterans' courts like this have sprung up in 27 states. There are 100 already with another 100 planned.”

As seen in the story, Arthur Davis was facing twenty years in prison when he became one of the first participants in the Harris County Veterans Treatment Court. The decorated veteran served two decades in the Marine Corps, completing four combat deployments. When he returned home for the final time, he had difficulty engaging with his surroundings, drank to self medicate, and was soon arrested for assault. Thanks to the collaboration in Harris County, he was able to receive treatment for substance abuse and PTSD. Today, Arthur Davis has been sober for two years. “It put me back in a leadership position,” Davis said. “The veterans' court, they prescribed a nice detailed pattern of what you needed to do in order to get on board. And it works.”

In 2011, the Harris County Veterans Treatment Court attended Justice For Vets’ Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative (VTCPI), a comprehensive five-day training for new and planned Veterans Treatment Court teams. “Judge Carter and his team are a shining example of how Veterans Treatment Court can transform a community. I congratulate them on this story and thank them for their commitment to ensuring no veteran is left behind,” said Justice For Vets Director Matt Stiner. “Every Veterans Treatment Court should feel proud of last night’s story on 60 Minutes. It is a testament to the unwavering commitment of those who work in these courts, and the incredible capacity for change of the men and women who are served by them. This story sends a strong message that Veterans Treatment Courts will forever change the way the criminal justice system handles veterans.”

To view the entire story, click here.

"Political System Is Failing Addicted and Mentally Ill Individuals "

With Election Day only two weeks away, this important commentary in The Huffington Post's blog highlights the lack of attention to individuals suffering from drug addition and mental illness during the 2012 presidential election cycle. The author calls for more effective use of federal, state, and local funding to address the addiction and mental health treatment needs of our communities.

"Arresting and incarcerating drug users... without addressing their underlying issues costs... significantly more money than helping those individuals identify and overcome their problems through proper treatment."

"The war on drugs is over, and everybody lost."

The Election Reminds Us That Our Political System Is Failing Addicted and Mentally Ill Individuals

By David Sack, M.D. 

October 9, 2012 

The hot-button topic in our current election cycle is the economy. Basically, finances seem to be the sole focus of nearly every campaign. And why not? With unemployment rates hovering in the 8 percent range, our nation's financial situation is a major issue. But almost as many Americans suffer from a serious mental illness as are unemployed, and there are many more people dealing with addiction than are unemployed. Even in an economy-driven election -- perhaps especially in an economy-driven election -- politicians should be paying attention to these facts. After all, whether it is a debilitating mental illness such as bipolar disorder or a mind-addling addiction to prescription medications, these issues cost our nation serious money. And the amount increases when the problems are left untreated or passed off to the criminal justice system.

Click here to read the full article.

Addressing Chronic Drunkenness in San Francico

On September 6, KQED's Forum with Michael Krasny featured a discussion about ways to address chronic drunkenness in San Francisco.  Ideas included opening "wet houses" for chronic inebriates, imposing mandatory treatment, and implementing a collaborative justice model.

Guests included Bevan Dufty, former District 8 Supervisor and Director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE); Jeff Adachi, San Francisco Public Defender; Jo Robinson, Director of Community Behavioral Health Services for the San Francisco Department of Public Health; and Keith Humphreys, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford School of Medicine.

Click here to listen to the Forum episode.

1811 Eastlake, Seattles's wet house program

In April, Mayor Ed Lee and others toured Seattle's wet house, a program that houses 75 formerly homeless men and women with chronic alcohol addiction -- with no restrictions on drinking. While controversial, wet houses are said to save taxpayer money by reducing residents' drinking over time and dramatically decreasing the number of emergency room visits associated with chronic inebriation.

Related articles:
"Dufty renews push for SF drunks' wet house" (SFGate.com)
"Bevan Dufty Still Wants a 'Wet House' in S.F. Where Homeless Drunks Can Drink In Peace" (SFist)
"S.F. looks at Seattle's alcoholic program" (SFGate.com)

Study finds "growing epidemic" of opiate dependence among newborns

A recent article in the The Huffington Post, "More Babies Born Addicted To Painkillers, Multiple Reports Show Growing Epidemic," describes the increase in opiate use during pregnancy and newborns experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

"In the past decade, the number of babies born addicted to opiates has tripled. An April study found that in American hospitals, roughly one baby is born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) per hour, meaning they became addicted to drugs in utero and experienced withdrawal when they were born. [...] symptoms of NAS include 'seizures and tremors, respiratory distress, vomiting and an inability to eat without becoming sick.' It can take weeks, sometimes months, for infants to go through withdrawal."

Click here for the full article. 

Related articles:
"Abuse of Opiates Soars in Pregnant Women" (New York Times, April 30, 2012)
"The Dilemma of the Pregnant Addict"  (New York Times, May 1, 2012)

Video: 
"Newborns Addicted to Painkillers: Study Finds Troubling Spike in Cases" (PBS Newshour, May 1, 2012)

  

Dr. Stephen W. Patrick: "Often in our health system, we react to problems. And I think that this study calls for a public health approach. Many states are already doing things to limit abuses of opiates, such as registries of prescriptions that are written, so that we can tell if someone is doctor-shopping, or going from one doctor to another, to get the same opiate prescription. It's things like these and strategies to limit opiate exposure that will prevent this problem way before it becomes an issue, especially in our newborns."

"San Francisco Ahead of Curve on Realignment"

"About 350 more people are in San Francisco Jail because of realignment, California's shifting of state prisoners to county supervision. But unlike in some places, there's no fevered talk of building more jails, outsourcing inmates or releasing them early.

"In fact, San Francisco wants a few more inmates.

"Under realignment, lower-level state prisoners are released to the supervision of county probation officers rather than state parole agents. San Francisco wants its jails to take custody of these inmates two months before their discharge date."

Click here for the full article.

HBO's Addiction Project

In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), HBO has created a multi-media campaign aimed to spread the word and educate the public about addiction. The Addiction Project includes a 14-part documentary series, a comprehensive website, 4 independent films, and a grassroots community outreach movement.

TIME article on marijuana addiction & Prop 19

With Californians heading to the polls tomorrow to vote on Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, an compelling article was posted on TIME.com titled Is Marijuana Addictive? It Depends How You Define Addiction.

The article talks about the difference between the physical and psychological effects of addiction. In the posting, Stanton Peele, author of the book Love and Addiction, says “How harmful is this addiction compared to other addictions? It can be disruptive to people's lives; I have a treatment center, and some people end up there because of marijuana. On the other hand, in terms of physical assaults to your body, it's better than smoking and better than alcohol."

How will it play out for the state of California? We will all have to wait and see what happens on November 2nd.

Read the full article

New therapies, drugs offer hope to meth addicts

Researcher’s at California Pacific Medical Center's Addiction and Pharmacology Research Laboratory are focusing efforts on treatment for methamphetamine users by looking at new therapies (i.e. “motivational” therapy) and pharmaceutical drugs that will help users fight their addiction.

See article in today's San Francisco Chronicle for the full story.

"Tackling America's Drug Addiction" - NPR Interview

Click here to listen to the June 18, 2010 NPR interview with Joseph Califano, founder and chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, about national efforts to address drug use and addiction.

SMART Recovery- Another approach to addiction treatment

SMART Recovery was founded in 1994 and is based on principles of self-empowerment and cognitive behavioral therapy. To learn more about this practice, visit: http://www.smartrecovery.org/intro/index.htm

Check out the following article by Join Together:
SMART Recovery Pitched as AA Alternative

Join Together is the nation's leading provider of information and strategic planning assistance in effective alcohol and drug policy, prevention and treatment.


(Please Note: On 4/4/2011, Join Together became part of The Partnership at DrugFree.org. For more information, click here.)

Reflection on GAINS

At the biennial GAINS Conference in Washington DC, members of the Behavioral Health Court team had the opportunity to connect with providers and justice system personnel. The GAINS Center is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As stated on the GAINS Center's website,

"The 2008 CMHS National GAINS Center Conference represents a unique opportunity for practitioners and researchers working at the interfaces of the criminal justice and mental health systems to network, learn, and share knowledge on creating effective services for justice-involved individuals with mental illness."

Several members of the team were proud to represent San Francisco's program as workshop presenters. Kathleen Connolly Lacey, Program Director of Citywide Case Management Forensics (the UCSF affiliated agency many BHC clients go to for case management, therapy, groups and psychiatric care) led a presentation titled "Whatever It Takes: San Francisco's Experience of Combining Evidence-Based Treatment Practices and Recovery Principles in a Mental Health Court." Jennifer Johnson, Deputy Public Defender, participated in a panel discussion on the "Defense Perspective" in mental health courts, and the entire team led a session called "Why Mental Health Court Matters to your Community," describing the evolution of BHC and its impact to the larger San Francisco community.

Here are some things team members had to say about their experience at the GAINS Conference:

Danica Jardini, BHC/Mental Health Paralegal - Office of the Public Defender

The most memorable moments for me at the conference were hearing the first-hand stories of individuals who have cycled in and out of the criminal justice system and what is like for a person with a serious mental illness or history of substance abuse to traverse the justice system while working toward recovery. Some of these stories were highlighted in the Voices of Jericho documentary and from mothers in recovery working with the Rebecca Project for Human Rights, who were able to immensely benefit from family-based treatment addressing their trauma and addiction. These stories emphasize the need to create more effective services for people with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems.

Leslie Cogan, Assistant District Attorney

Overall the GAINS conference had a lot of informative and interesting sessions to attend. Their Keynote speakers had innovative, insightful and relevant information to convey to the audience. My thought that mentally ill persons are likely to be survivors of trauma was affirmed by studies that show that 90% of people with serious mental health issues have suffered trauma. Sessions that addressed how to serve survivors of trauma were of interest to me. The two sessions I found most impactful and helpful were the films shown in the film festival which gave a first hand account from mentally ill people themselves about their struggles to survive in society and stay out of the criminal justice system and what worked for them to succeed. The other session that left an impact on me was learning about the Family Based Treatment Model which stresses that recovery programs must treat the client and their children at the same time in order for recovery to be successful. A wonderful program that show cased this model was Shields For Families in Los Angeles.

Yesie Esquivel, Deputy Probation Officer

It was my first time at the GAINS conference and I was very excited to attend. Close to 1200 people from all over the United States were in attendance. The participants included Judges, Attorneys, Mental Health Providers, Probation officers, Police officers and other professionals invoved with the Mental Health System and Mental Health Courts. The sessions included a focus on Trauma and also sessions about collaboration between the Law Enforcement Community, clinicians and other service providers working with mentally ill clients. I found these sessions paticularly helpful. It was also encourgaging to see that there is a focus on collaboration in other parts of the country.

Lisa Lightman, Director of Collaborative Justice Programs

The importance of Forensic Peer Specialists was an enlightening experience for me at the GAINS conference. Forensic Peer Specialists are mental health consumers who can play a key role in helping other consumers recover from their psychiatric disabilities. In the beginning of their integration back to the community, some panelists shared the following: “I needed a reason why I should stop using drugs.” “Being mandated to a program is not the worst thing.” “You need to show up to do your part. Medication doesn’t make you totally better.” Over time, as a person becomes even more integrated into the community, the option of taking a Forensic Peer Specialist Training course can ultimately lead to work in human services organizations that provide services or supports to other mental health consumers.

Director of Collaborative Justice Courts Comments on new CJC program

There are miracles that occur daily at the criminal courthouse on Bryant Street. Those of us in the legal community who focus on treatment for defendants whose crime was committed due to drug and alcohol addiction or mental illness often witness the transformation of suffering into personal renewal, family unity and community integration. Not too bad for a day’s work if you spend any time at the Hall of Justice.

The Superior Court has been doing this work for well over ten years beginning with our Adult Drug Court which quickly inspired the development of our Juvenile Court and Alternative School program and our award winning Behavioral Health Court (BHC) for mentally ill offenders. We were tired of seeing the same individuals revolve through the same doorway so we joined the movement of problem-solving courts which accounts for nearly 1700 such programs nationwide.

We’re compassionate and knowledgeable about relapse and recovery and we can sometimes quote passages from the DSM-IV manual that defines types of mental illness. But don’t mistake sensitivity for being a pushover. Some of our detractors still try to claim we’re soft on crime. Public safety is held to the highest order. We’ll only accept misdemeanants and felons on a voluntary basis. Anyone in our program is free to head down that very traditional hallway. But if San Quentin is at the other end then we’ve got an inspired individual on our hands even if their psychosis is currently weaving a captivating tale or a raging methamphetamine addict is insisting there’s no problem your Honor.

There are certain conditions for staying in the program like ‘follow your treatment plan’ even if the court knows that a client will inevitably and predictably fall off or trip over the wagon. For one psychotic defendant, this might mean a daily dose of Risperdal and consistent treatment groups; for another, custodial detox followed by 90 days in a residential treatment program. Some leave the program in the first month or just don’t make it. But fast forward six months to a year, after weekly or monthly appearances in court for judicial monitoring and hours of case conferencing among the defendant and committed team members including the Judge, Public Defender, District Attorney, Probation and Treatment – even this individual has become a miracle in his own eyes.

While a newly recovering addict is as real as it gets, graduation, which occurs at the end of the program, is sometimes coupled with the surreal. It’s not uncommon for a graduate to thank his arresting Police Officer (who is invited to the ceremony and given a rose in gratitude) for saving his life. “Getting arrested was the best thing to ever happen to me.” You have to see to believe. The graduation is open to the public and so are our weekly afternoon court sessions.

Do our multiple miracles hold up over time? Given that the majority of our clients were homeless, marginally housed or moderately employed if at all, our statistics are another source of inspiration. In a study several years ago, the number of arrests declined substantially for all Drug Court participants comparing the two years prior to entering and the two years after leaving the program. For graduates, arrests decreased by 83% during this period of time compared to a 42% decrease for non-graduates. And, in an evaluation by UCSF of our Behavioral Health Court published in the September 2007 American Journal of Psychiatry, by 18 months after graduation, the risk of BHC graduates being charged with a new violent crime was about 54% lower than that of other comparable individuals.

Given our success, it’s not surprising that the Superior Court is moving forward on the development of a new court program called the Community Justice Center (CJC). Modeled after New York’s Red Hook and Midtown Manhattan court which transformed the chronic crime problems in these communities, the Superior Court is partnering with members of the Board of Supervisors and city agencies under the direction of the Mayor’s Office to consider a new approach to handling our version of persistent crime. The CJC differs from our aforementioned alternative court programs in two notable ways. This program not only focuses on a specific geographic area, in this case the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, it also includes community participation in an advisory and on-going capacity. The community holds the CJC accountable to community needs which addresses the judicial branch’s interest in increasing public trust and confidence.

During the spring and summer months, and with assistance from the Center for Court Innovation in New York, the court met with individuals, neighborhood groups, social service and housing agencies, and the police, to learn, listen and really hear the concerns of the community. There are long-standing problems – drugs and alcohol lead the way - that have plagued the area for decades.

We held our first Town Hall meeting in January. The dialogue and development of this program is ongoing. We need to keep hearing from the community. But there are a few core concepts in place that make this a very different court program for San Francisco.

Service availability. Services will be available on a walk-in basis in a newly designated facility in the Tenderloin community whether or not an individual is charged with an offense. If someone is charged, offenses will include all misdemeanors (except domestic violence and drunk driving and license cases), and all felony cases (except violence). This court will not handle infractions.

Restorative justice.. The Justice Center is committed to a community-focused approach centered on repairing harm and rebuilding the community through a restorative based practice. An example might be a shoplifter who is directed toward community service that actively engage the defendant, victims and other community members.

Provides accountability. A single judicial officer will hear all the cases. There’s an immeasurable benefit from having personal knowledge of and relationships with repeat offenders with chronic issues. If we’ve seen a defendant before, we’ll be better informed about the case history. For many of our individuals, the judge as authority or pseudo parent is considered one of the most effective tools that tips the balance toward health and stability.
Community participation. A permanent CJC Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from housing, business, workforce development and more will be established to help guide further planning and implementation. A monthly town hall meeting will also be scheduled to hear feedback from the larger community.

The development of San Francisco’s CJC is both an art and a science. There are some program elements we are certain about; others require more feedback from the community or trust in ourselves to open the doors and just do it. In many ways, this art and science is similar to working with clients in our program. The law is the easy part. The challenge is to assess and provide appropriate justice for each person, specifically tailored to each person, with the goal of improving their life and the lives of those live and work in the community.

Lisa Lightman
Director of Collaborative Court Programs
Superior Court of California
County of San Francisco

"But for now, the battle goes on."

"What Addicts Need" is the featured cover story of this week's Newsweek, focusing on new developments and insights into the treatment of drug addiction and substance abuse disorders. Scientific developments in treating addiction with a possible "addiction vaccine" make for an interesting read, but it is the subset article titled, "And Now, Back in the Real World," that I found most interesting -- it higlights what communities and public institutions are doing to grapple with the problem of drug addiction and drug-fueled crime in the absence of a medical vaccine or miracle drug.

The article repeats some often discussed statistics; despite the frequency of their use, they still are shocking:

Between 2000 and 2006, the number of drug offenders in federal prison jumped 26 percent, to 93,751. An additional 250,000 are incarcerated in state facilities and thousands more sit in local jail cells.

At an average cost of roughly $25,000 per year to incarcerate an individual, that translates to about $8.6 billion spent each year on incarcerated drug offenders. This figure does not take into account thousands more offenders incarcerated for crimes other than drug offense, but whose addiction fuels their offenses (like stealing to support a drug habit). Most agree that incarceration does not help people overcome their addiction or end the cycle of criminal behavior.

The article describes how the courts are trying to change this pattern by creating programs, like our collaborative courts, that can rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism:

The most ambitious program so far is California's Proposition 36, which offers convicted nonviolent drug offenders family counseling and job training in addition to treatment. Since the initiative was approved by voters in 2000, more than 36,000 people have been diverted into treatment every year.

Though there are some successes, the challenges are great. Newsweek does a good job bringing attention to some of the biggest problems, like high drop-out rates and a lack of adequate funding.

Even as attitudes shift, the federal government still budgets far more for stopping drug flow and enforcing drug laws ($8.3 billion this year) than it does for treatment and prevention ($4.6 billion). Treatment programs are un derstaffed. Medications like methadone help some addicts, but harm others. Quitting is a grueling proposition. As a result, less than 10 percent of people who need treatment actually get it. And the proportion of people staying in treatment is "horrendously low," says David Gustafson of the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment. New science may change all that one day. But for now, the battle goes on.