From Deseret News archives:
Cuts made to successful Utah County 'drug court' program
State changes funding for sending first-time felons to 'drug court'
"How many clean days?" asked Rosie Jensen, drug-court coordinator for the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse.
"Three-hundred and ninety-five," Diamond replied. "Drug court was the best thing that ever happened to me. It completely changed my life."
"We love you a lot," her family called from the audience. "We're so glad to have her back in our family."
Fellow drug-court graduate Josh Parkin told the audience he's been clean for 370 days.
"I want to thank everybody in the program and in treatment," he said. "Life's better today than I ever thought it could be."
His wife, parents, in-laws and friends stood to congratulate him.
"I want to thank Judge Taylor and Rosie for giving me my husband and the children's father back," said Parkin's wife, Shari.
It's responses like these that make Utah County prosecutors, defense attorneys and substance-abuse treatment providers wonder why the state is pulling the funding for this specific drug-court population.
The program
Utah spends around $4.5 million annually, although the state could easily spend double that to treat more clients, said Brent Kelsey, assistant director of the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
Utah County's court has been in action for nearly a dozen years, catering to the first-time offenders like Diamond and Parkin, who committed serious crimes but are not yet deeply entrenched in criminal behaviors.
"We thought it was best to take first-time offenders," said Sherry Ragan, a deputy Utah County attorney who previously worked with drug court. "This way, we catch people before they commit new crimes."
When an individual gets slapped with a felony drug-related charge, be it possession, use, theft of drugs or money to buy them, or even forging prescriptions, they can be screened for drug court. Violent offenders are not considered.
If approved, the client pleads guilty. But the plea is held in abeyance, meaning that if they complete drug court, the guilty plea is never actually entered, the case is dismissed and the charge can eventually be expunged from their records. But if they commit new crimes or don't abide by the treatment rules, they fail drug court and are sentenced on their charges.
Recent comments
As with alcoholics, a drug addict must fight his addiction his/her...
Elaine S. | July 11, 2008 at 7:31 a.m.
Too bad they are making cuts on a program that seems to work....
Chris Plummer | July 7, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
Drug Court, whether in Utah County, Salt Lake County, Davis County or...
Speakout | July 7, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
- RSL advances to MLS Cup 9:06 p.m.
- Stanford ends Y's soccer season 9:04 p.m.
- New Mexico has not quit on season 8:56 p.m.
- Obama pushing arms-control 8:56 p.m.
- Reversing food shortage in Kenya 8:55 p.m.
- U.N. food chief on hunger strike 8:53 p.m.
- Hall ties Detmer's record for wins 8:43 p.m.
- 2A championship: Key defense 8:39 p.m.
- Utah soldier is laid to rest 8:38 p.m.
- James leads Cavaliers past Jazz 8:37 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead in crash
- Born of water and the spirit
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
356 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
105
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Utah is in a rebuilding year and Idaho is in a year where they are going to...
Congratulations San Juan.
Utes score meaningless td in 4th against Frog subs. TCU 200+ passing and...
Most of the complaints here about higher education are blaming the victims....
But hey, give Utah credit, they did score 28 so it makes it all better.
between Utah and BYU is that BYU could only score 7 points at home against...
I'm sure you did your share of smack talking throughout the season. You did...
Good job boys!
Funny how the Ute fans have tucked their tails between their legs... must be...
That was exciting. Listened on the radio and it was hard to figure out what...

