Warren and Hunterdon county drug courts report success as Gov. Chris Christie pushes to use them more

Hunterdon County officials say correlation between drug abuse and burglary is strong.

Courtroom 1 in Warren County Courthouse is usually filled with familiar faces on Thursdays. Before criminal court begins, members of the county's drug court program appear before Judge Ann R. Bartlett.

Typically, she addresses members individually, asking questions like "Do you have anything to tell me?", "How are things going?" and in some cases, "What happened?", which can require a parole officer to step in to explain.

The exchanges — a sort of microcosm of the program itself— feature both triumphs and missteps, announcements of progress and admissions of relapse.

The probationary program, which was introduced in Warren and Hunterdon counties in 2004, is an alternative to state prison sentence for those convicted of non-violent crimes.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is pushing to make drug court mandatory for certain offenders, and a sentencing option in lieu of prison for others.

Drug court was first introduced in Camden and Essex Superior Courts in 1996, and was gradually implemented statewide, according to the New Jersey Judiciary website.

To cooperate, not incarcerate

Succeeding in the treatment-intensive program is no easy feat, said Winnie Comfort, director of the New Jersey Judiciary's Communications and Community Relations department.

"Drug court is not easy. It's a five-year program of extraordinary supervision," Comfort said. "You're not in jail, but you're not free either."

Consequences of violating the program can range from writing an essay to jail time, and in extreme cases, state prison sentences, according to Warren County Assistant Chief Probation Officer Brenda Beacham. Cases that call for a defendant to be re-sentenced on their original charges, and sometimes new charges, are rare, Beacham said.

"The goal isn't to incarcerate; it's to get them to cooperate with the program," she said.

Last week in New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere, Bartlett implored Joseph Bowlby, 34, of Phillipsburg, to do just that. Bowlby, who was sentenced to drug court after pleading guilty to trying to steal copper from an air conditioner atop a ShopRite last August, was sent to the Warren County jail for three days, after admitting to using cocaine.

At the time, he was also appearing on charges he tried to steal $240 from a woman after she tried to lend him $20.

Bartlett asked Bowlby to write an essay detailing what he planned to get from the drug court program.  

"While you are in jail, I really need you to think about what the drug court can do for you," she said.

Drugs fuel other crimes

Earlier this month, the state senate modified Christie's bill seeking to make drug court a sentencing option, suggesting that pilot programs be created in Camden and Essex counties before attempting a statewide reform.

The bill also seeks to extend eligibility to those facing robbery charges, only in circumstances in which a weapon was not employed and the victim was not harmed.

The correlation between stealing and drug addiction is strong, according to Hunterdon County Chief of Detectives John Kuczynski.

"Narcotics and illegal drugs tie into many crimes, whether funding habit or legal business," Kuczynski said.

This week, Hunterdon County prosecutor Anthony Kearns III announced that a task force dedicated to solving a string of tri-state burglaries has made 16 arrests since its formation in January. Kearns said the prevalence of residential burglaries in the area is likely a result of substance abuse.

He said that the desperation of addicts is evident in their willingness to enter homes, not knowing what awaits them on the other side. Though it depends on the individual, he said drug court can be a strong option.

"I think it's a great option for someone in the throes of addiction," Kearns said. He said that the consequences of violating the program's strict regimen serve as a strong deterrent. "It's a real incentive to stick with it because the stakes are very high and very real."

The decision to include convicted burglars can draw criticism, as was the case when a Pike County man charged in a series of Warren County burglaries was sentenced to drug court in March.

Before Shawn Culleny was sentenced, one of the homeowners passionately testified that Culleny did more than monetary harm. She argued that he also inflicted psychological damage, upsetting her sense of safety and stealing irreplaceable family heirlooms.

Under the current drug court system, county prosecutors have the final say on individual program eligibility. Christie's bill would leave it up to a judge.

Lisa Scheidemann, drug court coordinator for Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties, said that eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, and she's seen prosecutors both accept and deny those facing burglary charges.

"I've seen it go both ways," she said. "I do believe that everyone deserves a chance."

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SUCCESS BY NUMBERS

Of 2,428 drug court graduates in New Jersey since 1995, 84 percent were employed by the time they graduated the program, and 30 percent improved education or vocational skills.

Of those graduates, 16 percent of those graduates were arrested again after graduation, and 8 percent were re-convicted.

Of 162 people admitted to Warren County drug court, which started the five-year program in 2004, 26 graduated, 52 were thrown out of the program and 28 of those thrown out were sent to state prison.

Source: New Jersey Judiciary and Warren County Probation Division.

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GETTING INTO PROGRAM

To be considered for the drug court, hopefuls fill out an application reviewed by a drug court team. The team includes a judge, prosecutor, public defender, drug court coordinator and substance abuse evaluator.

The five-year program has four phases, and requires members to meet with probation officers twice a week in addition to appearing in court once a week. Members must also undergo weekly drug tests.