*mitt :3Jukririal Iircth1 f Alarglautt. Circuit Court for Calvert County 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678

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1 *mitt :3Jukririal Iircth1 f Alarglautt Circuit Court for Calvert County 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, Maryland Marjorie L. Clagett Associate Judge (410) Ext. 262 (301) Ext. 262 FAX - (410) December 4, 2015 Board of County Commissioners 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD RE: Calvert County Drug Treatment Court Funding RECEIVED DEC BOCC OFFICE Dear miariers: As you know, the circuit court started the Drug Treatment Court on February 25, In the short time we have been in operation, we have exceeded some of our own expectations and have met the fifty person per case manager benchmark this week. These are some of our accomplishments thus far: We have fifty active clients; We are scheduled to admit four people to the program by the end of next week and one person on early next year; Our State's Attorney, Laura Martin, has screened 106 referrals to the program (40.6% acceptance rate); We have performed 674 case management meetings; Participants in our program have logged 499 hours at Farming for Hunger; Three of our participants are in long term treatment facilities/programs in North Carolina; One participant is in long treatment in Virginia; Three more participants are living in structured sober homes in Anne Arundel County; All of our participants are either in treatment or have completed treatment, and, all are attending support groups with proof of attendance;

2 We have developed a Citizen's Advisory Council with twelve members from the community. We have a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer, a physical therapist, a fitness center owner, a county commissioner, a deputy sheriff, an educator and several prominent business owners. Our first meeting was December 3, Pam Harris, Maryland Court Administrator, has increased our Drug Treatment Court grant by $30,610 effective January 1, As noted in Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, volume II, drug court case managers will have no more than fifty clients as a caseload. Since we have met and will somewhat exceed that number by January, I am requesting to be allowed to use the $30,610 to fund a second case manager for the second half of this year, instead of applying these funds to cover Burgess Wood's salary for the remainder of the grant year, with the understanding that full funding will be requested in the next year's grant. We already have the office space and equipment for this position. We have worked hard and have a great need for this treatment court in Calvert County. We have had eleven drug overdose deaths for the first half of the year. We have referrals coming to us each day from a variety of sources. We are at a crossroads at this point and are asking for your help and support. We feel that we can grow this court to one hundred participants by this time next year, and want to follow best practices in doing so. If we stop the referrals now because our case manager has a full caseload, we will slow the momentum of the program. The second case manager along with Molly Owens and Burgess Wood will allow us to continue to maintain our excellent program. It is well documented that treatment courts are the most cost effective and successful way to treat addiction and, therefore, impact our criminal justice system. Please help us keep our court moving forward. I would like to appear before you in public session before the end of the year. Please let me know which Tuesday is good for you. ari orie L. lagett Administrative Judge cc: Molly Owens, Treatment Court Emanuel Demedis, Court Administrator

3 December 8, 2015 Dear Calvert County Board of Commissioners, I am writing this letter to you all in gratitude and appreciation of the new drug court treatment program that became available to the citizens in our county who have drug and alcohol addictions. I can tell you from my experience with this program so far as a parent of a drug addict it is saving lives every day and I get to see the results of this on a daily basis. My son was accepted in to the drug court program in August 2015 after being arrested in February 2015 on drug charges specifically distribution charges. He was looking at 15 years in prison or drug court. Thankfully he was accepted in to the drug court program and given the opportunity to prove that even drug dealers who are really drug addicts deserve a second chance. This program should always be made available to non-violent drug offenders to at least give them a chance to get the help that they never received prior to this program. It cost taxpayers money to keep them incarcerated and I would rather my money go towards helping these citizens get the help they need and be able to live a productive life in society. When my son started the program he knew it was a great opportunity, but it was going to be hard work and a huge commitment, but something he had to want to do for himself and his children in order to get better and have his life back. His other option was going to prison for several years and having no life at all so to him that was not an option. All these commitments kept him busy and focused on his recovery so he didn't have much time to sit around thinking about his addiction. Once he started doing things right he noticed that everything in his life started coming together and he was a much happier person as well as us. He is in his fourth month of the program and is doing remarkably well. He knows it's day by day, but his life has turned around 110% compared to where he was six months ago. We as parents are very appreciative and thankful for this program because we truly believe it saved our son's life and turned his life and our life around. We can go to bed at night without worrying whether he is going to come home or not. We don't have to look at him knowing he's using drugs and wondering what we can do about it with that helpless feeling you get when you don't know what to do or where to turn. We have our son back we can see the glow in his eyes again and when we talk to him he talks to us with respect and a clear mind. What a difference! I would like to see many more addicts have a chance to go through this program and many other families able to have their loved ones back. I also think it's great that the drug court program is for 18 months. I feel that is long enough to get them equipped to live a sober life and be a contributing person in our society. Thank you again. We are very grateful! Keep up the great work and great program! It has forever changed our lives. Parents of a Calvert County Drug Court Treatment Participant

4 December 9, 2015 Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, My daughter, 22 years old, suffers from drug addiction. She has been in and out of jail and different rehabilitation facilities for the past 4 Y2 years. We tried every avenue we knew to not only get her help but to keep her alive. About 3 months ago she was assigned to Adult Treatment Court. Through the Adult Treatment Court she has been given the opportunity to receive the Vivitrol injection. Not only has she not had any relapses, she is happy. She laughs, she hangs out with her sister, and she is looking healthier than she has in years. She has goals and a plan for her future. Because of the Adult Treatment Court she feels that her mistakes have not hindered her future. She sees that she can overcome this addiction and become an active constructive young adult. The Adult Treatment Court doesn't only make sure the individuals assigned to them obey laws and stay out of trouble. They help them deal with the issues that got them to that place in their lives. They help them do things they thought were impossible, i.e., go to college, have a career, family. My daughter is applying for college, has a job, and for the first time in years she is smiling. Molly Owens, Burgess Wood and all of the other members of the Adult Treatment Court system genuinely care about the individuals assigned to them. I go to court with my daughter for her reviews. You can see the overwhelming impact this system is having on these individuals. My daughter is proud of herself, and listening to all of the other accomplishments makes her want to continue a clean and sober life. Because of the efforts of the Adult Treatment Court I have my daughter back, the one that was once hidden by addiction. Parent of a participant of the Adult Treatment Court

5 Honorable Marjorie L. Clagett Circuit Court for Calvert County Maryland 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, Maryland Dear Judge Clagett: I wanted to take the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the Drug Court in Calvert County. My son has been a long time drug addict with varying degrees of success with rehabilitation programs and extended periods of sobriety. His drug problems eventually resulted in a sentence to the Department of Corrections (DOC). After ten months in DOC my son was selected for the Drug Court program in Calvert County. This has been an amazingly positive experience both for me, as a parent, but also for my son. I used to dread going to court with him, and so did my son, because we never knew what the outcome would be, but always assumed it probably wouldn't be good and would most likely have some punitive result. We both now look forward to going to Drug Court so he can share his successes and be rewarded. The rewards may be as simple as a 'great job' from the team or a piece of candy from Molly but it is an outward recognition of his hard work. The Drug Court is, in my opinion, inspirational. It is obvious that the entire Drug Court team is truly invested in the success of every participant. I like that all participants in a particular session of Drug Court must sit through every participant's hearing. They get to learn from each other's successes and bumps in the road. They all see that being dishonest is met with stern consequences. They also see compassion for those who sometimes stumble and need a little extra help getting back on track. Judge Chandlee is very open with the Drug Court participants about what is expected of them. He is very tolerant as long as the participants are respectful, honest and genuinely making a good faith effort. My son is doing very well since he has been released to the Drug Court program. He is living in a sober living home, attends drug classes several times a week, is actively engaged with the NA/AA meetings 'in the rooms,' has a sponsor and is working the Step Program. He starts a job today. My son is working very hard at being a responsible adult, a good parent and a contributing member of the community. This has not been a focus for him for a very long time. Page 1 of 2

6 I knew that the son I loved and remembered was 'in there' somewhere. The Drug Court is helping him to finally be successful and feel good about himself. I am thankful to the entire Drug Court team for their compassion and caring. I also thank whoever has made this court format available to provide this nurturing environment available to people who have struggled so long. Punitive action has its place, this method works well for those who struggle with addiction. No one ever woke up and said 'hey today I want to be a deadbeat junkie or drunk.' For those who really want to get clean and sober and are willing to put in the hard work, the Drug Court will help them. cc: Honorable Mark S. Chandlee Burgess Wood Page 2 of 2

7 December 14, 2015 Dear Commissioners, RECEIVED DEC BOCC OFFICE Drug addiction is not just one person's problem but a community problem. The disease does not discriminate; it has no bounties. It not only effects the person using drugs, it negativity effects the community as a whole. Drugs lead to crime, incarceration or death. When you first notice the change in a loved one, you are in denial and then you make excuses for the individual. You watch a productive person turn into someone you don't recognize. By the time you figure out that they may be addicted to drugs, it is often too late and you cannot fix the problem. The person using drugs may want to stop, but they can't seem to kick their habit themselves. This happened to my family. There was a feeling of hopelessness. My loved one was addicted to opiates and entered the Calvert County Drug Court this past summer. The change is remarkable and thus far has been very successful. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for giving them the opportunity to participate in the program. This is not only a win for my family but for the community. I am very impressed with the people running the program, how the program works and the accomplishments that have been made by the individuals in the program. I'm thankful and proud to say that I am a Calvert County Citizen. This is my community and you have brought hope back into our lives. A Proud Calvert County Citizen