First Drug Court commencement announced for Barrow County

DEAL

First Drug Court commencement announced for Barrow County

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Friday, April 27. 2012

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The Piedmont Judicial Circuit will hold its first Drug Court commencement ceremony on May 2 at Barrow County Courthouse at 6 p.m. The Honorable Jason J. Deal, Judge of Superior Court, Northeastern Circuit, will be the keynote speaker. The commencement is open to the public. The Barrow County Courthouse is located at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder.

In a recent press release, Piedmont Judicial Circuit specialty courts director Taylor Jones writes: Judge Deal has served as a Superior Court Judge for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit since June 2005. He is the presiding judge of the Hall County Drug Court and the Dawson County Treatment Court. Previously Deal served as the District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Magistrate Judge of the Hall County Magistrate Court, Assistant District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, County Attorney for Dawson County, and as an associate with the law firm of Thompson, Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks & McKennon. Deal received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and his Bachelors of Science degree from Furman University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Deal was raised in Hall County and graduated from North Hall High School.

Judge Deal is the former chairman of the Edmonson Telford Center for Children. He is also active with the Council of Superior Court Judges serving on several committees. Deal is married to Denise Fallin Deal and they have three children. They live in northern Hall County and attend First Baptist Church, Gainesville.

The Drug Court is designed to assist individuals facing drug-related charges in Barrow, Banks and Jackson counties while specifically addressing substance abuse and addiction driven crimes. Drug Court provides a sentencing alternative to traditional incarceration and address the relapse rates of nonviolent offenders. The program commenced in spring 2010 and requires a voluntary commitment of at least eighteen months from participants. This comprehensive program strives to inform the community about ways in which supportive and rehabilitative services may be accessed in order to combat this issue and participants will agree to undergo intensive and supervised treatment. They have also been ordered to successfully complete group, individual, and family counseling; urine testing; educational and vocational training; and health and community activities.

Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff presides over the drug court for the multi-county circuit. Judge Mingledorff holds participants accountable for their recovery, sanctions noncompliance and ensures timely fulfillment with obligations to maintain sobriety, sustain employment, obtain stable housing, pay child support and court fees and meet familial obligations.

The Drug Court is currently collaborating with various community organizations, including the Public Defender’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections, Advantage Behavioral Health Services, Department of Labor, Project ADAM and a host of other agencies in order to institute positive change within the three-county circuit.

Other efforts to promote the specialty court extend beyond the county line as the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has provided the program with a three-year grant totaling over $342,000. This grant is part of the funding made available to the State under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as part of the federal government’s stimulus efforts.

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#1 People whine when the DA sentences on 04/27/12 at 03:34 PM [Reply]

people to drug court vs jail. Claim he's too soft on criminals, lets them run free, etc...

Drug courts have been used in other states for years AND THEY WORK.

I am happy to read this. WTG

#1.1 Michael O. Bradley on 04/29/12 at 05:45 AM [Reply]

All I know is that I am scheduled to graduate drug court the 2nd of May along with three other guys and I speak for the 4 of us when I say Drug Court Works!! Had the judge not given me this opportunity I would have gone to prison for a few months, got put on parole and continued to commit crime and use drugs! This is the single most wonderful opportunity I have ever had and I am so grateful! Thank you Drug Court! Mike.

#2 Anonymous on 04/29/12 at 09:35 AM [Reply]

$342,000 tax dollars / 4 people. I would hope it worked.

#3 Michael O. Bradley on 04/29/12 at 10:27 AM [Reply]

I should have said the 1st 4 of many to come! The initial cost of 342,000 was to help get the program up and running. As time goes on I think you will see that the cost of continually incarcerating people just to have them repeat offend would be much more expensive to the tax payer in the long run with no solution on the horizon!! But I understand your trepidation and hurt feelings. It will get better!!

#4 Anonymous on 04/29/12 at 11:00 AM [Reply]

Actually, if the majority of the people in drug court get terminated, they then get a prison sentence. So that doesn't save the taxpayers any money. None of the math takes into account the cost of jailing people for sanctions, the ultimate prison sentence many participants receive, etc. My understanding is that only one program in GA is actually self-sustaining.

#5 Michael O. Bradley on 04/29/12 at 11:18 AM [Reply]

Going forward, some good may come of this after all. If I can impact someone else's life in the future by sharing my experience, my strength and my hope with them and they too can experience a life free of drugs and alcohol and crime, that's priceless! And if I effect a life, and they effect a life, and so on and so on. See where I'm going with this?? There is a solution! How much is that worth??? Now multiply that effort by the many grateful graduates that will come behind me. Now I see a solution on the Horizon!

#6 Shannon Navarre on 04/29/12 at 02:21 PM [Reply]

One thing to also add to the value of the program is the community service contibuted by the people in the program. I've had the opportunity to utilize the hours available with the Keep Barrow Beautiful program and Stormwater Management. Most of the people were wonderful to work with and put a tremendous amount of time with the County offices performing duties in the recycling room and other tasks that needed immediate attention throughout the day. This cost-benefit can be added to the program's value as well, especially after the reduction-in-force. It was not easy seeing some struggle with two years of strict accountability. It was not always convenient keeping up with people weekly, but knowing I was a help in keeping people working on their goals and providing a healthy distraction through the program was well worth the investment. I think I grew as a person and have a greater understanding of people's struggle with addiction.

#6.1 Michael O. Bradley on 04/29/12 at 03:01 PM [Reply]

Thanks Shannon!

#6.2 JO JO on 04/29/12 at 11:11 PM [Reply]

Shannon. I think you have sucked enough off us working taxpayers. Remind us again. Just how was it that you got appointed into your position of power with Barrow County?

#7 Anonymous on 04/29/12 at 02:34 PM [Reply]

"Two years of strict accountability"? Right. Guess you don't read the rival paper.

#8 Anonymous on 04/29/12 at 03:47 PM [Reply]

Congratulations to you Michael! Thank you for sharing your story and best wishes for continued success.

#9 Praying on 04/29/12 at 05:38 PM [Reply]

I am praying my daughter does something to get arrested again in Barrow County so she can receive this opportunity. My daughter is 19 and a crystal meth addict. When she was on juvenile probation, they did NOTHING despite my begs, pleas and cries. NOW they have this. It is about time. It is every parents nightmare to see their child destroy and kill themselves, no help, no rehab will take them if they are not willing. I am watching my daughter die. All I can do is pray for her to be arrested and forced to get help. :(

#9.1 Anonymous on 04/29/12 at 10:46 PM [Reply]

Maybe you should take some responsibility for your daughter yourself. Instead of leaving it up to the tax payers.

#9.1.1 Im just saying on 04/29/12 at 11:39 PM [Reply]

And what would you have a mother to do? Her child is an adult and therefor is responsible for her own decisions. The mother has done what she could. Obviously you do not have adult children yourself.

#9.1.2 Anonymousass on 04/30/12 at 07:17 AM [Reply]

I have done absolutely EVERYTHING I can. I would LOVE to take responsibility for her. I have offered her nothing but rehab. I do not enable her in any way. I would be more than happy to PAY for rehab. But she won't go and I need her FORCED to go. I am a taxpayer, too, and have been all my life. I deserve to benefit from the services I am helping pay for! You are ignorant. Just ignorant. Spend a day in my shoes before your offer your "valuable" advice.

#9.1.2.1 Odins Eye on 04/30/12 at 09:50 AM [Reply]

Have you explored the ayahuasca treatment or obgaine treatment.
I have read that these treatments have had excellent results with addicts and substance abusers.
Youtube has some great videos on the subject,
Maybe worth exploring?

-Od

#9.1.2.1.1 Maybe on 04/30/12 at 11:18 AM [Reply]

It would be worth exploring if she was willing to receive help. She admits she is a drug addict but says she does not need nor want help. She is currently missing and I have no idea where she is.

But I thought I would share some info with the public. My daughter can log into the Lawrenceville police department's website as an officer. How you say? Well, she was given this information from the officers she sells dope to!!! There is your tax dollars at work people!! Here I was wondering how she has not been arrested for anything...

#9.1.2.1.1.1 Odins Eye on 04/30/12 at 12:58 PM [Reply]

I wish strength for you and your daughter,may she live long enough to grow out of it.

as far as help from LE..I would not hold my breath....The LE community directly benefits from the "war on drugs"...they are not motivated to help folks beat their demons...they are in buisness to lock em up and keep them down.

Peace
-Od

#9.1.2.1.1.1.1 bob on 05/01/12 at 04:49 AM [Reply]

Actually, most LEO's are sick of arresting the same people over and over, just to have them released from the jails and referred to drug courts. Drug Courts are like most Liberal Programs, they look good on paper and have a lot of hype and PR, but in practice, just another revolving door. The American Criminal Court System needs to be revamped. We need to get back to the days of "Eye for an Eye: style system.

#9.2 Anonymous on 05/03/12 at 07:22 AM [Reply]

Abba House

#10 may on 04/30/12 at 06:36 PM [Reply]

my death come before my liberty is forever lost.
but i do not by this bull crap addiction story, as matter of fact 85% of those who choose to stop usig do so with no programs.
only aout three percent of those trying programs are succesful for remainder of thier life.
people stop doing thingss when thongs stop working for them.....

#11 Michael O. Bradley on 04/30/12 at 08:07 PM [Reply]

To all who posted, thank you. Our graduation is this wednesday and I think the general public is welcome to attend. This is a wonderful program and we need for people in Barrow and surrounding counties to get involved. No one truly exists all alone but when we come together as a caring community we can get things done. Good things!! I am so grateful for the law inforcement community and the selfless and thankless hard work they do to make our community safer.

#12 Michael O. Bradley on 04/30/12 at 08:24 PM [Reply]

Just one more thing. I don't have all the answers nor would I want to. For 42 years I was a slave to alcohol and drugs. I failed at two different rehab facilities. I completed 12 of 17 week outpatient treatment. I was initially turned down for Drug Court! Had i not been incarcerated a number of times I would still be a slave. If a man or woman is not allowed to feel the pain and discomfort of their bad choices then they will not stop making them. Looking back, I am grateful for the arrests and incarcerations. Today because of Drug Court I am no longer a slave! I am free to live a happy and productive life that I previously thought unavailable to me. There is a solution! thank you, Mike.

#13 Michael O. Bradley on 04/30/12 at 09:21 PM [Reply]

To anyone considering Drug Court. This program will give you the proper motivation to get clean and sober but they don't stop there. This program will also provide you with all the tools you will ever need to stay that way, for life, but it will be hard. anything in life worth having is hard to get. What i have was hard to come by but what i have I wouldn't trade for anything this world has to offer. I'm happy, whole and complete and you can be too!!

#13.1 Anonymous on 04/30/12 at 10:14 PM [Reply]

Sounds like you drank the Kool-Aid Michael.

#14 give me on 04/30/12 at 10:18 PM [Reply]

a break, like i said some ppl just decide enough is enough at some point the only real problem is the drugs being ilegal and that one got caught with them not the using not not being contribuyor to society but the fact there is groups of armed men looking to confine and areest persons who choose to use or have items deemed illict and illegal but in themself and even in some cases where prescribed are not the problem rather then taking the problems of thft and violnce some people do to others these armed men call law enforcement spend large amounts of time and money mostly arresting the poor and stupid, while the real amounts and often bigger users remain at large, I do not think either should be arrested or chased or bothered for doing harm or making poor judgements that if items were not illegal would only harm them.....

#14.1 Cannot decipher on 05/01/12 at 08:22 AM [Reply]

You must have been on drugs while writing this post because I cannot understand any of it...

#14.2 WOW on 05/01/12 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

Really? I think your brain is fried.

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