Brochure December2012 (1)

7/30/2019 Brochure December2012 (1)

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nside This Issue

ume 2, Issue 4

cember 2012A Publication by

2013 Officers

and Directorsennessee Association of

rug Court Professionals

eveloping A

edia Policy 2

ice Wins Christy

ernon Spirit Award 3

ADCP Host 8th Annual

ate Conference 3

th Judicial District

th Anniversary 4

scussion At

pscomb University 5

h Hamilton County

aduating Class 5

e Presidents

orner 5

d Annual

ay on the Hill 6

embership

pplication 6

President

Mary Schneider

Vice President

Tracye Bryant

Treasurer

Brad Price

Secretary

Rick Taylor

West Tennessee DirectorAngela Parkerson

Middle Tennessee Director

Marianne Schroer

East Tennessee Director

Judge Charles Cerny

At Large Directors

Ron Hanaver

Kevin Batts

Jill Barrett

OVERCOMING ADVERSITYBY KNOX COUNTY DRUG COURT JUDGE, HONORABLE CHUCK CER

I volunteered to

write an article for

the newsletter, and

I thought it would

be a piece of cake.

Just like the story

that I (ah, I mean

the story my son)

wrote for 9th grade

English. It was a

combination of

"The Art of Racing

in the Rain" and

"1776"; that is, itwas a retelling of Washington's crossing of

the Delaware River from his dog's perspec-

tive. It was great! Never had the words

flowed so easily from my (I mean, my

son's) word processor! So, if I can write a

basic outline for my (I mean my son's) first

novel, a little article should be easy, right?

I volunteered to write about overcoming

adversity when your Drug Court judge is

accused of using pain killers, accused of

having an affair with a Drug Court graduate,

and accused of committing several state and

federal crimes. I volunteered to write about

what happens when your Drug Court judge

has to resign. I volunteered to do just a lit-

tle factual article about the things we havedone to continue to help people achieve

sobriety and never re-offend even after

some of the worst possible things that could

happen happened to our program. I was

just plain stupid! What was I thinking?

Let's start this way: how can I call it

"overcoming adversity?" We are still up

and functioning, we still have our grant and

we pay the salaries of our staff, and we still

have participants who seem to be doing

well. But many of the supportive members

of the community were so discouraged that

they no longer meet together to be an advi-

sory board for our Drug Court. We still

have fantastic staff, and they are still coun-

seling and helping participants, but we areoperating at about half of our capacity. We

still have graduates, and we will have a few

more at our next milestones party, but we

also have quite a few who decide they want

to leave the program against our advice,

thinking that rotting in jail would be better

for them than completing our Drug Court.

"Overcoming" means some sort of over-

whelming victory. I think that we are tak-

ing it one day at a time, but we are still

here.

The Knox County Criminal Court Judges

asked me to help Drug Court continue

shortly after our Drug Court Judge had to

resign. Since that time, I have attended two

national conferences, and our state confer-ence, and I have had the great privilege of

serving briefly on our Tennessee

Association of Drug Court Professionals

board, which I continue to do. I have han-

dled dockets and staffing almost every

Wednesday afternoon since I was asked to

help, and I can say that I used to believe in

Drug Court. Now, I BELIEVE IN DRUG

COURT!!! I have seen participants com-

plete our program and their lives have

changed. So I keep coming back to the

dockets. I have seen our staff continue to

be quietly excellent at what they do, car-

ing for and counseling participants, help-

ing them to a new and better way of life.

So, I keep issuing the sanctions. I have

seen participants relapse and almost die

and then come back and beg to stay in our

program. So I keep buying Jolly Ranchercandies, as a small, symbolic incentive in

the hope that we can make a difference.

Our director continues to give me rea-

sons for hope, especially when I see him

interact with a partici-

pant. He is level-head-

ed, hard working, expe-

rienced, and he is

skilled at counseling

our participants. Our

case manager is a

patient saint of a woman, but she is tena-

cious at holding participants accountable.

She recently had a problem with her comp

time: she was entitled to so much comp

time because of all of her hard work whenshe helped our program get started, that she

was told by our county government that she

had to take the comp time or there would be

repercussions. That was months ago. She

has been taking the comp time, but she still

works diligently to help our participants.

She has given our participants her cell num-

ber, and she is available to help them any

time they need her.

We have two wonderful counselors, and

we have three great members of our per-

formance measures team, and they are all

passionately committed to helping our par-

ticipants. They work every day to make

sure our participants are called to be

accountable, yet they still have com-passion for what each participant is

going through. And our staff makes

sure to be available at Criminal Court

dockets every day seeking new partici-

pants in an effort to reach more mem-

bers of our community who need us.

Our staff has done these things despite

the public adversity of our Drug Court

Judge, and despite the fact that each

one of them has had personal health

related adversity of their own. I am so

proud of our Drug Court Staff!

If there were to be a message for

our readers, I think the best and most

important message would be: hire and

surround yourself with great, commit-ted, passionate people, but make sure

that you have a system that transcends

any outstanding individual. There

must be a way to carry on in the event

of the demise, retirement, or inability

of anyone to continue to serve in their

capacity. There must be a plan to han

the loss of any member of the team, ev

the Drug Court Judge. Another conce

how to handle public scrutiny and the

We have chosen (and I think we have c

sen wisely) to simply try to attract as l

attention as possible. We have not don

press releases that we are still up and r

ning, or that we have another graduate

anything else. We are just trying keep

going so that when the media's scrutin

our former Drug Court Judge has comp

ly died down, we will be able to say thhave continued, we have survived, and

have helped so many graduates save th

lives from the hell of addiction. In sho

now is probably not the time for a med

campaign to tell our co

munity about Drug Co

It could really back

right now in our local

I can say that I am so v

excited to have discove

that our Governor has

mitted to Drug Courts as part of his Sa

Action Plan. This will go a long way

toward helping all of us overcome adv

and it will help us keep Drug Courts av

able to those in need of our help.This article has not been easy. I ca

say that our success is guaranteed to co

ue. I don't know for sure how our stor

end. But I can say that our staff has co

ued to "throw the starfish back into the

tide", against the odds and in spite of h

difficult and scary it has been. I am pr

of how well they have done!

How did George Washington's dog

up after crossing the Delaware? Well,

have to read my (I mean my son's) 9th

grade English story! But let's just say

General Washington's dog sniffed out t

enemy and overcame adversity!

T A D C

E

V

E

N

T

S

Mark YouCalendar

TADCP 2nd AnnuDay on the Hi

February 19, 2013

9:00 AM to 12:00 Noo

Capitol Hill

Nashville, Tennessee

Our director continues

to give me reasons for hope,

especially when I see him

interact with a participant.


2/6

ge 2 Tennessee Association of Drug Court Profession

CEUs, and CLEs pending approval

DEVELOPING A MEDIA POLICBY MARY SCHNEIDER, LAPSW

ery drug court should have a media

y developed BEFORE it is needed.

ortunately, many of us have had bad

gs happen in our programs that the

s could publicize. But we also have

things happening in our programswe want the press to publicize. This

le will give drug courts some guide-

to use when developing their media

y. This information is from the

onal Association of Drug Court

essionals Crisis Preparedness Manual

was shared during a workshop in

leston, S.C. in February, 2002.

Media Relations

esignate a spokesperson, whether it isjudge or your program coordinator.

all members of your team know that if

are contacted by the press, they

ld refer them to your designated

esperson. No one should speak to

ress about a drug court issue unless it

e designated spokesperson.

e spokesperson for your program

ld develop a relationship with local

a. Know who the contacts are at

resource. Keep them informed of

is happening with your drug court.

n a quote or comment is requested,

onest. Always return phone calls.

se remember: There is no such thing

ff the record!"

When Working

With The Press

* Don't speculate on the

cause of the situation,

monetary value of loss,

resumption of normal

operation, or blame for the

situation.

* Don't flatly refuse information.

Always give a good reason why informa-

tion is not available.

* Do not overact or exaggerate a situa-

tion. And most important - do not answer

hypothetical questions.

* Do not repeat negative or inflammato-

ry words used by the reporter. You could

be quoted. Always start with a construc-

tive, positive position.

* Do not be afraid to pause for a

moment to gather your thoughts. If youare not satisfied with your answer, simply

say, "I haven't made myself as clear as I

would like"...and begin again.

* Don't feel obligated to answer a mul-

tiple-part question. You choose the part

you want to answer.

* Don't make off-the-record statements.

There is no such thing.

* When using technical terms, follow

with a clear and simple explanation.

* Let a medical doctor or hospital sup-

ply information on a person's injuries, not

you.

* Don't ask to see a reporter's story but

if you feel a reporter is misinformed, con-

tact the reporter at once and make a clari-

fication.

* Don't jeopardize safety. Advise

reporters if dangerous conditions prevaat or near a site. Make it clear you are

trying to ensure their safety. Be vigila

* Do know to whom you are speakin

Get their name and telephone number.

* Rely only on facts. Do not specul

Offer only verified information approv

for release.

* Tell your story quickly, openly, anhonestly to allay suspicion and rumors

Speed is all-important. All reporters h

deadlines.

* Report your own bad news. If the

media has to dig, they may decide you

guilty.

* Be accessible to the media so they

will not go to other sources for your

news.

* Avoid "no comment". It leads to

speculation. Say, "I don't know" if yo

not have an answer. Then get the answ

and contact the reporter.

* Keep your composure even if a

reporter gets "snappy".

* Speak with one voice via designat

spokespersons.

* Provide sufficient evidence for all

statements you make.

* Record events as they occur, so yo

can later present your side of the story

necessary.

* Be alert about photographs. You c

control photographs taken outside you

area of jurisdiction, but you have every

right to control photos taken on govern

ment property.

Please remember:

There is no such thing as

off the record!


3/6


ENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS AWARDC. BRAD PRICE WITH CHRISTY VERNON SPIRIT AWARD

uring opening ceremonies at

DCPs 8th annual drug court pro-

onal conference, held at the

bassy Suites infreesboro, TN,

rad Price, Drug

rt Director for

31st Judicial

rict Drug Court

gram was pre-

ed with the

sty Vernon

it Award. Presenting Mr. Price

the award was Honorable LarryStanley, Jr., Drug Court Judge for

31st Judicial District Drug Court.

every TADCP conference the

sty Vernon Spirit Award is pre-

ed from TADCPs members nom-

inees for recognition of his/her service

to drug courts. Christy Vernon was a

grant program manager for the Office

of CriminalJustice Programs

who tragically lost

her life in a traffic

accident, but not

before making a

significant impres-

sion on the people

she met. In memo-

ry of Christy Vernon, the TADCP

members vote on one person everyyear who shows the same exuberant

attitude for the advancement of Drug

Courts in Tennessee.

This years recipient is the Director

of the 31st Judicial District Drug

Court Program and Treasurer for th

TADCP. Mr. Price continues to exe

plify a servant/leader for the Drug

Court Program and the TennesseeAssociation of Drug Court

Professionals. I am very humbled

and honored to receive this award

stated Mr. Price, when presented w

his plaque. To be able to be assoc

ed with such a worthwhile organiza

tion and professional individuals, i

truly a blessing, Mr. Price remarke

during his acceptance speech.

To be able to be associatedwith such a worthwhile organiza-tion and professional individuals,is truly a blessing, Mr. Priceremarked during his acceptance

speech.

ENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS (TADC

HOST 8TH ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCEADCP held its annual state confer- in Murfreesboro, TN at the

bassy suites on December 5, 6,

7th, 2012. Individuals associated

treating addiction and drug court

onnel attended this informative

erence.

peakers from across the United

es had presentations on the most

ated research on addiction, men-

ealth, latest drug abuse trends

ennessee, team building, and

h more. The TADCP members

ted their new board members to

e for 2103. The 23rd Judicial

rict Drug Court had a Drug

rt graduation ceremony on the

night of the conference along

the awarding of the Christy Spirit

ard to C. Brad Price. There werey vendors displaying the latest

technology from drug testing to

tracking offenders via (GPS) global

positioning systems.

During the three day conference,

attendees from across the state had a

chance to meet and network with

other drug court professionals. This

time of sharing information and learn-

ing what programs worked, and whatprograms did not work from other

drug court professionals was priceless.

Every year TADCP hosts a state

drug court conference. TADCP is a

to have these informative conferenc

because of TADCP membership

funds, and a grant from the

Department of Mental Health.

Without your TADCP membership

we would not be able to continue

every year with providing drug cou

professionals a chance to learn abo

assisting individuals with substance

abuse addictions.

TADCP membership is from

January 1st through December 31s

you have not already submitted you

membership dues for 2013, please

complete the membership form in o

newsletter. If you have never attend

a state drug court conference, pleas

make plans to attend the next confeence scheduled for December 10, 1

12, 2013, in Murfreesboro, TN.


4/6


27TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DRUG COURT PROGRAM

CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARYelebration of the 10th anniver-

of operation of the 27th

cial District Drug Court, a

ption is planned for December2012

m 2 p.m.

p.m. in

Circuit

rtroom at

Obion

nty

rthouse.

drugrt pro-

m was

blished as

dult

ny post-

treat-

nt program with a goal of

ucing the drug related crime

within the counties it served.

Drug Court Team would con-

of the Judges, the District

orney, the Public Defender,

istant Public Defender, Westate

rections staff, a Program

luator from the University of

nessee, representatives from

l law enforcement and treat-

nt professionals. The first par-

pants were admitted to the pro-m in December, 2002.

st accepted participants are

uired to serve an initial period

ncarceration. Upon release

m jail they will then receive

nsive out-patient treatment by

nsed professionals, intensive

ervision, frequent drug screens

are required to make a weeklyearance in court. Applicants

rged with a violent offense or

who have a history of violence are

not considered eligible for the pro-

gram. The average time required

to complete the program is 22months. The pri-

mary drug of

choice among the

participants is

methampheta-

mine.

Prescription drug

addiction is also

prevalent amongthose accepted to

the program.

The percentage of

participants that

successfully com-

plete the program

is 48%. The average recidivism

rate, both nationally and locally is

25% among individuals who com-

plete Drug Court.

Two hundred seventy seven men

and women have been admitted to

the drug court program since it

was organized

in 2002. The

27th Judicial

District Drug

Court program

was one of thefirst drug court

programs to be

awarded state

certification in

2008. In May

of this year, a

graduation cere-

mony was held in the Obion

County Circuit courtroom. Amongthis group of graduates was the

programs 100th graduate.

The current capacity of the Drug

Court program is 40 participants

The current cost to provide the

programs services is less than$10.00 per participant per day.

The cost of incarceration for a

felony inmate in the Tennessee

Department of Correction is

$65.00 per day. Funding for the

27th Judicial District Drug Cour

program is provided by state

grants, drug court and DUI treat

ment reserve funds, Obion and

Weakley county government, pa

ticipant fees and charitable cont

butions.

Each life that is changed from

addiction and committing crime

to become a contributing memb

of society as

result of wha

we are doing

collectively i

cause for cel

bration. Thepublic is invi

to join the

members of

drug court te

as well as m

of our gradu

ates as we ce

brate the 10th anniversary of the

Drug Court program since itsestablishment in the 27th Judicia

District.

The percentage of

participants that

successfully complete

the program is 48%.

Drug Court Team Members: (Front Row, left to right) Lourie

Coupe, Counselor; Veronica Thornton, Program Coordinator;

Dr. Deborah Gibson, Program Evaluator; Sue Moore, Case

Officer; (Back Row, left to right) Michael Walton, Case

Officer; Judge William Acree, Circuit Court Judge; Tommy

Thomas, District Attorney; Judge Tommy Moore, Weakley

County General Sessions Judge; Joe Atnip, Public Defender;

Judge Jimmy Smith, Obion County General Sessions Judge;

(not pictured) Colin Johnson, Assistant District Attorney

Drug Court Judges: (Left to right) Weakley County General

Sessions Judge Tommy Moore; 27th Judicial District Circuit

Court Judge William Acree; Obion County General Sessions

Judge Jimmy Smith


5/6


THEPRESIDENTS

CORNE

TADCP MEMBERSENJOY..

BY MARY SCHNEIDER

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNIT(NAADAC AND CLE)

ANNUAL TADCP CONFERENCE

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

REPRESENTATION THROUGH THETADCP LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

FREE AND DISCOUNTED TRAINING OPPORTUNIT

Welcome to 2013! A New Year and n

leadership for TADCP! I want to thank Tra

Bryant for agreeing to serve as Vice Presid

and Kevin Batts for remaining on the bo

Kevin has done a wonderful job as

President this past year...thank you Kevin!

The first item on my agenda is to update

website. As the association representing d

court professionals in Tennessee, it is imp

tant that our website keep you informed of a

thing affecting your programs. It is a

important that we offer training on our site

new team members and continuing educatfor current team members. Keeping you upd

ed on resources that DMHSAS is offering

drug courts will also be on our site. We h

to offer discussion forums for you to

answers or ideas from your peers who h

also had those same questions or ide

Hopefully, it will be a website that you will

and refer to often.

We are already planning our next TAD

On The Hill for February 19th. There is

article about this elsewhere in this newsle

It is very important that we continue to educ

our legislators about drug courts and make

presence known to them.

Finally, we have already signed the cont

with Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro for

next conference. This will be held Decem

11th through the 13th. Planning will be st

ing on this immediately. I only hope we

outdo the conference this year!

I hope it will be an exciting year for TAD

and it's members. Please feel free to con

any of your board members with your ide

questions, needs and wants.

Thank y

Mary Schneider, LAP

EVENTH YEAR OF HAMILTON COUNTY DRUGCOURT SEES LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS

ne wore a cap and gown, but the nine

e in drug court Monday received a piece

per maybe more important than a diplomadrug court grad-

n certificate. The

p is the largest

uating class yet

e 7-year-old

ilton County

Court, said

e Kelly, program

dinator. "We

ion on a shoestring budget every day, and

act that people keep coming back and

g this work, it's not just a blessing. It's a

privilege," Kelly said. "And seven years,ever thought we'd get here."

e program is funded through grants,

wed each year, she said. Seventy-six peo-

ave graduated from drug court since it

n in 2005. Participants have paid $97,293

urt fees and fines and more than $30,000

ild support payments, according to pro-

data. Program participants must work or

rm community service. Last year they did

than 1,000 hours of community service.

must complete a minimum of 14 months

hich they attend group meetings, commu-e with a sponsor and are subjected to

ned and surprise drug tests.

trina Shell explained how far she had

to the packed courtroom. "I've got a car,

a scooter, my own place, an evil cat," she said.

When on drugs and living on the street she

wouldn't acquire things, for fear they'd betaken away.

Brittney Land and Corey

Gilbert, both 29, met while in

drug court. Both graduated

Monday. They have a 7-month-

old daughter, Alyssa Land.

Mostly, participants are discour-

aged from starting relationships

while in recovery, but Land said

that she and Gilbert supported each other and

will continue to do so.

Sponsor Tony Lyons, 29, who worked with

two of the current graduates, said giving backas a sponsor helps motivate him and remind

him about his life before becoming sober.

We function on a shoestring

budget every day, and the fact

that people keep coming back and

doing this work, its not just a

blessing Kelly said. And seven

years, we never thought wed get

here.

Catrina Shell hugs Judge Rebecca Stern upon receiving

her diploma during Drug Court graduation

AKE LOCKERT, RICK TAYLOR, AND KEVIN BATTSLEAD DISCUSSION AT LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

TADCP Members Jake Lockert, Rick Taylor, and

Kevin Batts led a discussion of "Ethical

Considerations in Drug Court" at Lipscomb

University in November. The attorneys discussed the

ethical decisions facing lawyers who also serve as

Drug Court team members during the applicationprocess, staffing, court proceedings, and the determi-

nation of sanctions.

Lipscomb University has recently added a course

on "Problem Solving Courts", which exemplifies the

University's commitment to teaching future lawyers

about alternatives to the traditional judicial process.

Lipscomb students are encouraged to visit Drug

Courts, and some have served as Interns for local

Drug Courts and TADCP.

The course instructor, Circuit Court Judge Tim

Easter of Franklin, is a TADCP member. Judge

Easter serves as the Drug Court Judge for the 21st

Judicial District. Jake Lockert is the District Public

Defender for the 23rd Judicial District, Rick Tayloris Assistant Public Defender for the 23rd Judicial

District, and Kevin Batts is the Drug Court

Coordinator for the 23rd Judicial District.


6/6


TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS

one-year membership to TADCP is $25 per person. An organizational membership from 1/01/2013 - 12/31/2013 is $200 for 2-10 membeand $10 for each additional member greater than 10. Please make checks payable to TADCP.

Is this application for an individual membership or orgranizational membership? Individual Organizational

Please specify the membership organization_______________________________________________________

mary contact person

e

nization

Drug Court

Mailing Address

City, State, ZIP

Phone Number

Fax Number

E-Mail Address

MEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION

A Publication by the

O. Box 639Minnville, TN 37111

C O M P U T E RTR

A

I

N

I

N

G

New Horizons Nashville has

pricing set up with TADCP forcomputer training.

The following prices are for TADCPmembers:

Access - $88 per level per student

Word - $58 per level per student

Excel - $68 per level per student

OLA Access - $67 per user forOnline Anytime

Feel free to call or email for anyadditional information:

Ph: 615-850-5919Fax: 615-251-6925

Email: [email protected]

TADCP TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL DAY ON THE HILL

FEBRUARY 19TH 9:00 AM TO 12:00 NOONADCP will be hosting their 2nd

ual Day on The Hill on Tuesday,

uary 19th from 9:00 am until

0 noon. This is a wonderfulortunity to visit your legislators

tell them how great your Drug

rt, DUI Court, Mental Health

rt and all specialty courts are! We

have two tables set up by the

committee meeting rooms, right by

the cafeteria. We will be offering

refreshments all morning to the legis-

lators along with information aboutthe success of our courts. It is impor-

tant that we maintain a presence with

our representatives and keep them

knowledgeable about what we are

doing. If you have new representa-

tives this year, it is even that more

important to meet with them and te

them about drug courts. We had a

pretty good turn out last year andwould like to see even more of you

participate. Thanks to the committ

Mary Schneider, Jeri Holladay-

Thomas and Marianne Schroer.

Brochure December2012 (1)

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