Drug court program last resort before jail

CEDAR RAPIDS - Jerry Robinson couldn't stay out of trouble.

Robinson, 28, started smoking marijuana at age 13, added prescription pills later and eventually had several run-ins with the law that led to jail time, including breaking into a building while he was abusing an anti-anxiety medication and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on drugs.

He was put on probation and was in and out of the Hinzman Center, a community correctional facility in Cedar Rapids.

“It was my daily routine to smoke weed,” he said. “I smoked weed during probation. I thought if others could drink I should be able to smoke. I always worked but I didn't stop smoking. ”

Robinson had another probation violation in June and says the only thing that kept him from serving a serious jail sentence - and helping him stay drug-free - is the Linn County Drug Treatment Court.

If Robinson completes treatment, he will join 24 others in Linn and 16 in Johnson who have graduated from the program that allows offenders to get substance abuse treatment while under court supervision instead of serving time in jail.

“This is their last chance before going to jail,” said 6th Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover-Grinde, who was instrumental in starting the local drug courts. “We have incentives and sanctions and resources to help them stay on track.”

Officials count Corrina Todd, 49, formerly of Cedar Rapids and now of Independence, among the success stories of the program that started in 2007 in Linn County and 2008 in Johnson County.

Todd not only got help for her crack cocaine addiction but also received mental health counseling to deal with being sexually abused, which contributed to her addiction.

Todd was interviewed by The Gazette in 2008 as part of the first graduating class of the Linn County drug court. She successfully completed the program in 2009 and has been clean and sober for five years.

Todd was in a desperate place when she got into drug court. She had turned to prostitution to support her habit and said she doesn't know what would have happened if she had not gone trough the drug court program.

“Back then, I never thought I would get here today,” Todd said. “I rely on God. It does get easier but you have to believe you can do it. Little changes make a difference.”

To be eligible for the program, offenders must have committed a non-violent felony or aggravated misdemeanor that stems from substance abuse and have been sentenced to at least two years of probation, said Cathy McGinnis, 6th Judicial District community treatment coordinator.

The offense may be obvious, like possessing illegal drugs, but charges like forgery and burglary committed to feed a drug habit also might qualify a person for drug court, McGinnis said.

A six-person team consisting of a judge, two probation/treatment/mental health coordinators, drug treatment counselor, defense attorney and an assistant county attorney assesses and selects participants for the program.

The program is designed not only to treat addiction but give the offenders tools and resources to be successful in their home life, at work and in the community, McGinnis said.

The resources might include mental health counseling, help with employment, housing and education, and getting the participants involved in community service.

While less than one-fourth of the 175 offenders who have entered the program have graduated and 83 have had their probation revoked, McGinnis said she feels the program has more successes like Todd than failures.

She insists the numbers don't tell the entire story because there are many intangible factors to consider, like when a family member thanks the team for giving them back their son or daughter or when a husband and wife are reunited.

Hoover-Grinde said some of the participants have gotten their GED, started college, purchased a house or found a job where they have benefits for the first time,

Revoking someone's probation is the last resort if other options - including house arrest, increased drug testing and monitoring with ankle bracelets - have failed. At that point, the offender would be sent back to court and a judge would likely give them jail time.

As for Robinson, he had a setback in his first 45 days in the program but has since been clean and is committed to graduating. He is a dental lab tech at Studio 32 in Cedar Rapids, and he has nine months to go in drug court.

“I let a lot of people down ... my girlfriend and my boss,” Robinson said. “I have a son now who is 8 years old and I don't want to lose him. My focus is to make sure he has everything he needs.”