Drug Court Praises Its First Graduates

With Santana’s “Evil Ways” playing in the courtroom Thursday afternoon, two Ventura County teens became the first graduates of Ventura County’s Juvenile Drug Court.

The graduates, James and Daniel, celebrated by blowing out candles, accepting certificates and receiving compliments. Judge Brian Back congratulated the teens for their hard work and perseverance. And, as he closed their court files, Back told them they were no longer on probation. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t come back and visit,” he added.

Juvenile Drug Court, which began in Ventura County last fall, gives youths the chance to cut their probation time or possibly avoid a stint in Juvenile Hall if they give up drugs and get treatment. For one year, a team of counselors, attorneys and probation officers helps the teens break their addictions, stay in school and stop committing crimes.

The judge withheld the teens’ last names because they were in Juvenile Court.

As Daniel stood in front of the room, Deputy Dist. Atty. Donna Thonis gave him a cassette tape of songs as motivation to stay off drugs and thanked him for being an inspiration to other teens.

“You and James made drug court work,” she said. “All the kids who come behind you know it can be done.”

The drug court team said the intensive program fills a gap in treatment services for drug-addicted teens in the county. But the court has moved more slowly than expected, they said, primarily because of the selective standards used to admit teens. So far, the court accepted only 67 teens and rejected dozens of others. Of those who made it, 27 either dropped out or were kicked out for too many dirty drug tests or too many missed rehab meetings.

Sociologists from Cal State Northridge and Cal Lutheran University are conducting a two-year study of the court to determine its impact on the teens’ drug addictions, family relationships, school attendance and criminal records.

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The program is intense. The teens must attend rehab meetings three times a week and get individual counseling once every other week. Every two weeks, they must appear in drug court and submit to frequent drug tests.

“You get involved in drug court, you have a job to do. If you don’t want to do the job, we don’t have the time,” Back said.

When James, 18, heard about drug court, he asked the court if he could get into the program. The team evaluated him and decided he would be a good drug court participant.

The Camarillo teen said he started smoking marijuana and drinking regularly while in middle school. By the time he reached high school, he was getting drunk every day and running away all the time. Alcohol constantly got him into trouble; James said he was arrested for possession, burglary, violating curfew and driving under the influence. Six times, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. Six times, he drank or smoked pot again.

James’ mom, Sue, said drug court motivated her son to quit. “Drug court holds the kids extremely accountable,” she said. “If they screw up, they pay the price.”

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A few months into drug court, James relapsed and had to spend a few weekends in Juvenile Hall. Clean and sober for more than six months, he recently passed his high school equivalency exam and got a job at a pet store.

“I feel kind of neat because I was the first person in it,” said James, who designed the logo for Juvenile Drug Court. “There’s been a lot of people that got kicked out because they didn’t take it seriously.”

During the ceremony, drug counselor Jose Rodriguez told James he was proud of him. “You were a tough nut to crack, but you made it. We’re going to miss you.”

Daniel, also 18, said he started smoking marijuana when he was 13 and eventually switched to methamphetamine. He tried to quit several times, Daniel said, but had never asked for help. He lives in Oxnard with his great grandmother and said he hasn’t seen his mom for eight years and rarely spends time with his dad.

Once he was in drug court, Daniel was thankful for the support of his counselors and everybody on the team. He had one relapse, about two months into the program. He is now enrolled in school and is staying clean.

“Drug court is a good program, but not for everybody,” Daniel said. “A lot of people just want to get out of Juvenile Hall. But if they find the right people who really want to get clean and sober, they’ll graduate.”

Justice Steven Z. Perren, who began drug court before moving to the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, said Daniel and James showed courage and strength. “These two young men have paved the way I hope and pray that many more youths will follow.”