Editor:
A rare occasion occurred on Nov. 9, 2012: A young man completed the drug courts long process of changing his motivation of being addicted to drugs, the first one to complete this course , in many years. The drug courts record is dismal, to say the least.
This court is run by a committee that meets in a back room with closed doors. What is the goal of this court? One would think the end results would be when a treated juvenile reaches a point of motivation to leave their addiction behind regardless of the time involved. This appears not to be the case; pushing them until they fail seems to be the norm.
A young lady now enrolled reached that point when she became aware she was going to have a baby, but instead has been ordered to attend a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in the Denver area. Based on her drinking two Coors Non-Alcohol Beers over a three-day period, the committee charged her with being highly intoxicated according to their interpretation. Six adults are ready to testify that this never happened, since they observed her before, during and after the tests were taken.
When her parent complained, they would not listen. When first ordered to go, it was because of alcohol, then later reported that she was not sent because of alcohol, then again later it was reported that because she is 19 and has a baby, she needs this training. What is their agenda? Funding? Jobs?
A question was asked in court, how wasshe was to get there; the judge remarked she had several options, such as, take a bu, or a limousine, dodging the questions of who was to pay since she has no money, no car, and a seven-month old baby.
Will this committee put her in jail for not obeying a court order when she is unable? What is the responsibility of this committee? Should they see transportation is provided to and from for the safety of this young girl and her baby?
Gene Clark
Cortez
Via email