Drug Court in Action

The fact that Blount County was participating in the Drug Court program was very interesting because prior to this class I had never heard of its existence. Ms. Irving was informative of the Drug Court when she spoke to the class, for she provided an overview, which contained pertinent facts and participation requirements for the program. This was instrumental in understanding the Drug Court procedures. While observing the Drug Court on two separate occasions, I noticed that the atmosphere in the courtroom was very different from what you would see in a regular courtroom. The clients were given the opportunity to speak more openly with the Judge. There was a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone that was involved in the Drug Court program.

Prior to the beginning of each session, the Drug Court team reviews each of the cases, so when the session started the team members were prepared and knowledgeable of each client's case. The actual set-up of the courtroom was similar to a regular courtroom, for the professionals, team members, were seated up front and the clients were seated behind the separating wall. The Drug Court team consists of Judge Kelly Thomas, District Attorney General's Office, Public Defender's Office, Blount Memorial Hospital's Emotional Health and Recovery Center, State of Tennessee Department of Probation and Parole.

The Judge was definitely the one in charge, but he allowed the clients to speak directly to him, whereas clients are not allowed to do this in a regular courtroom. The clients were very respectful to the Judge and the other Drug Court members. I am sure that they are very grateful to be participating in the Drug Court program, for this program allows them to be at home with their loved ones instead of being in jail or prison. The gender of the participants was interesting, for there were as many female clients as there were male clients in the Drug Court program. The characteristics of the clients were hard to distinguish, but each client had the same story-they had abused drugs and alcohol in their past and ended up in trouble with the law. The age span of the clients was diverse, for it ranged between eighteen to late forties, maybe. The Drug Court program was structured to achieve the highest degree of success, for the clients are required to participate at a 100% level in the program, and they are monitored closely and they are penalized for every infraction.

Infractions for not complying with the requirements consisted of doing four hours of community service. Some infractions, I noted, were being late for Drug Court, missing an appointment, or not doing assigned community service hours. The penalty for failing a drug test or receiving another charge was more severe, for these infractions would require incarceration in the Blount County Jail. The Drug Court program has different phases and has assigned steps that have to be completed prior to each client advancing through the phases. Random drug test are administered to each client at different settings of the Drug Court program, and some clients were required to take a drug test prior to the actual Drug Court proceeding.

The Drug Court team was prepared for each client's case and the Judge addresses each client's case individually. The Judge would call her or his name and the client would proceed to the podium in front of him. Some of the clients were only in front of the Judge briefly, for he would update them on their progress and expectations according to the team's recommendation and then he would give them an opportunity to address any problems that they might be having. If they had no problems or questions, then they were finished. Once the client was in front of the Judge, the infractions and the appraisals were addressed and penalties were given to the ones that required penalties, and the recognition for a successful week was given to the ones that deserved it. The Drug Court program intercedes in a positive way for the community, for it provides the clients an opportunity to turn their lives around.

Nov. 1, 2000