 Doris Santiago, director of the Alpine Recovery Center, with its owner, Dr. Robert Dibble, receiving a certificate of recognition from Superior Court Judge Dean Stout for the center’s participation in the Inyo County Adult Felony Drug Court. Photo by Mike Bodine By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
3-4-3010 There is a progressive drug rehabilitation program in Inyo County for repeat felons. To participate, offenders must pay their own way, give up most of their constitutional rights and the show is run by a man who admits it is his job to try and find any excuse to put these convicts back behind bars.
And the program is working. People once described as “hopeless” by local law enforcement and the judicial system are becoming productive members of society thanks to the Inyo County Felony Drug Court. But how successful is the program?
“Success? It depends on who you ask,” or what is defined as success, responded both Mark Olsen, the probation officer assigned to the Drug Court, and Superior Court Judge Dean Stout, who is credited with starting the program.
The program has had 59 participants since March 2, 2006, with 31 graduates and 14 who have flunked out, for whatever reason, during the rigorous 14- to 30-month program.
Olsen, who has been both the deputy director of the Inyo County Juvenile Institution and the officer in charge of the Drug Court, said he initially considered success as a participant being clean and sober “five years after they’ve been off probation.”
This coming from the a self-proclaimed skeptic of the program from the early days when he was on the steering committee six years ago. He explained Tuesday that his experience has been mainly as a law enforcer for more than 23 years, 11 years with the Inyo County Drug Task Force. He said he has seen 23 years of people failing drug rehabilitation, and it made his skepticism for this program grow from the very start.
Those first participants haven’t completed those first five years of being out of the program, but, he said, “To have 50 percent complete the program is great, and this is coming from the skeptic.”
Participants of the program are usually recommended to Drug Court instead of facing large prison sentences, not just probation.
Olsen said he tries to discourage offenders from joining the program, because it is such a commitment. “It’s a lot easier just going to prison. But, take the harder road and you’ll be the better for it.”
The Drug Court program is designed for the worst offenders with the longest rap sheets, and those with the most to lose, like children and a family. Olsen said the hard tactics of the program seem to work best with those with so much to lose.
Olsen joked that only folks who have the “most negative history with me” get into the program. These are offenders with a long history of drug abuse and multiple prison stays. He explained that most people wanting to get probation in lieu of a longer incarceration period for their crime “try to act and look as good as they can in court. To get into Drug Court you have to look really bad.”
Participants have to pay more than $300 a month for the privilege to be part of the Drug Court and attend meetings at the Alpine Center for Counseling and Recovery. The Drug Court is paid for by a few grants, but mostly out of the county’s General Fund, and the dedication and extra effort made by county and court staff.
Participants must also attend Narcotics Anonymous classes at least three times a week, and are eventually required to get a job and live independently.
One participant who had been in the program for just six months admitted the program keeps him so busy, he has no time to use.
Participants also give up most of their constitutional rights, being subject to searches and seizures and urine tests – anytime or place.
Olsen said that part of the program requires participants to be subject to a urinalysis test for drugs a minimum of three times a week, and always before the weekly Wednesday morning court review of every participant.
Another mark of success of the program could be seen in the numbers of positive drug test results from participants. Olsen said that since the program has been in place he has had approximately 100 positives, out of more than 40,000 tests.
Olsen said the comparison is clear, when compared with positive test results in the 70-80 percent range before drug court, that the program is working. The participants haven’t changed, but the approach has.
The program is very strict.
Olsen said participants have been taken to jail for missing a single meeting. The participant usually doesn’t stay long. But that option is always hanging over the participant’s head. If the participant can successfully graduate, it will have saved the offender time in jail – an alternative that has been seen as counter-productive for addicts – and saved money for the state correctional system, not to mention given a new lease on life for the participants and their families.
And for Stout, that’s where the real success lies, in “the restoration of lives.”
Addressing a crowded courthouse in Bishop on Wednesday during the five-year anniversary of Drug Court review, he added, “Even in the failures, there was growth.”
These weekly reviews are not a regular court proceeding or group therapy session, but a mixture of both, delivered by Stout in conjunction with Inyo County Probation, Health and Human Services and local law enforcement agencies.
The reviews are very personal, with Stout calling up the participants one at a time, and everyone receiving a round of applause when they are called. The judge addresses each participant by his or her first name and reviews his or her weekly progress, adding words of encouragement, like “I’m really proud of you.” He called one participant an “all-star.” He gave a high-five to a man who had also quit smoking while in the program, and he gave a hug to everyone who received a chip for completing a chunk of time in the program.
Olsen said that the program could not be possible or as successful as it is without “the very compassionate judge and man” that Stout is. He added that Stout takes every case very personally and takes it to heart when a participant fails.
Stout said during the anniversary party that this program is “one of the best things ever” for him. He apologized for his selfishness, but he admitted that it is a great spectacle to see the transformation of participants. He also expressed his gratitude and respect for the participants.
“You are the strongest people I know,” Stout told the participants. “You are truly honest with yourselves, open and willing to change.”
One of the mantras at the review was, “Drug Court only makes you change one thing – Everything!”
Olsen explained that participants usually do fine coming out of a rehabilitation facility, but it’s very tough for participants to come back to small Inyo County and get out of the same patterns and groups of friends that lead to drug abuse.
To try and change the whole person, Drug Court pries into every aspect of a participants life. Stout explained that Drug Court assists participants with education and employment skills, family life, finances, medication and medical conditions, nutrition and health as well as a mandate that participants get involved in community service.
Others in attendance included members of clergy, educators and even some graduates from the program.
One participant wanted to thank the judge and Drug Court for helping him change his life around and “letting me be the kind of father I want to be to my kids.”
Howard Lehwald, retired educator and chair of the Inyo County Juvenile Justice Commission, said that he has seen the affects of drug abuse on an entire family, the children slowly barricading themselves off from the outside world. He said he so proud of the participants for breaking the cycle of addiction by participating in the program.
Doris Santiago, director of the Alpine Center, said the Drug Court was one of the most meaningful programs she has ever had the chance to work with.
Stout, Lehwald and others also praised the participants for helping to change the way the public and law enforcement perceive these career criminals.
Olsen added that employers of the Drug Court participants should also be commended for allowing flexible schedules.
Olsen said that ultimately, the success of the program should be credited to the individuals in the program.
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