Drug court helps those with addiction issues

Though people can find themselves typically facing a judge in circuit court or district court, another arena is provided through drug court, also referred to a family treatment court. Though currently not available in this county, it is available in the surrounding area and there is a desire to get a court here.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Thomas Harrington explained the county never had a “drug court,” but does have what’s referred to as a family treatment court, which originated as a juvenile court in the early 2000’s and evolved into a court where multiple cases were covered.

“That court was heard in Big Horn County, in Basin,” Harrington said, “and then about two years ago we expanded it into Washakie County because we had a full jail [there] and mostly drug cases.”

Harrington further explained there is court in Basin on Wednesdays and in Worland on Thursdays, but problems have arisen in regard to funding and staffing. “It’s actually very difficult to do it in both in those counties, and we would love to do it in Hot Springs County as well.” While the court has had Hot Springs County participants, most were people who lived in Washakie County but got in trouble in Hot Springs County. “We haven’t been able to actually hold drug court in Thermopolis, but everyone involved would love to do that. It’s a matter of funding and judicial resources.”

Prior to being a judge, Harrington was a magistrate and has attended drug court training with his successor, Judge Edward Luhm. Harrington expects Luhm to continue being involved with the drug court.

The court has seen some success in turning people around, Harrington said, noting the program takes a minimum of 1.5 years and sees all ages from juveniles to senior citizens. “Obviously it’s treatment oriented, so we work with the counseling centers as well as the probation and parole offices. They’ve been very supportive of it as well.” Working the cases involves these various agencies as well, making it a team effort.

Most counties have some sort of treatment program, Harrington said, and most of the circuit court benches and district court judges are supportive of that. “It’s a different court, a treatment court.” He noted it saves the state plenty of money. “you put a guy in prison, it’s up to 70 grand a year, so if you figure we’ve got a budget of less than double that. Keeping two guys out of prison, you save your money.”

Additionally, he said, these people are also integrated in their community, paying taxes and rent, buying groceries and caring for their families. “It’s difficult to calculate all the savings, because the main thing is you’re helping people turn their lives around. It’s been one of the most positive things I’ve been involved in.”

It can be very difficult to determine who will be successful in the program, Harringotn said, as they run the whole spectrum. He admits there have been some candidates he didn’t think would make it, but he’s happy they proved him wrong. There are incentives for them to do well, and sanctions for when they don’t. Harrington said those sanctions may be jail time, but they try to be creative as well.

“We hold them accountable, but we also reward them when they do well. Many of these have never had an authority figure tell them they did something right, and that is a big motivator. When you get to know somebody and their story, and you interact with them and treat them as human beings, it can take a while for them to figure out we’re not trying to be mean to them. When they figure out we’re really trying to help them, then they come around.”

Among the best people in that effort, he said, are the participants in the program helping each other. “They know what it’s like, and when the participants start helping each other we have success. Sometimes that dynamic is more present than other times.”