"Very Tough Love " is a radio documentary and an episode of this American Life event ( TAL ), which originally aired on March 25, 2011 This segment describes drug trials and programs in Georgia performed differently from all drug courts across the United States, and often contradicts the drug court philosophy, in accordance with the standards set by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. People without a criminal record or history of drug or addiction abuse, and are accused of having small drug quantities end up under the control of drug courts for five years or more. In most other jurisdictions, the same offense will result in probation or drug education classes.
Video Very Tough Love
New project
In the spring of 2010, the TAL staff took on different challenges: follow the method used by Charles Salter in 1970 when he wrote hundreds of columns "Georgia Rambler" for Atlanta Journal
This episode follows the standard format of the show, telling stories from several people, recording them speaking from their point of view. What's different is that TAL Producer Ira Glass delegated his responsibilities TAL for several weeks to personally research his story. He made several trips to Georgia to interview people for supporting testimonies, obtaining documents, finding background information and making repeated requests to get Justice Williams to answer many of the questions asked.
Maps Very Tough Love
Event content
The name of this episode comes from Judge Amanda Williams's comment that she believes in the harsh use of love by families dealing with drug problems. This title is used because Williams's actions far exceed the normal standard of hard love, getting closer to authoritarian parenting, which is often associated with negative results.
The show begins with Glass providing background in the home town of the person to be interviewed at Lee Arrendale State Prison in northeastern Georgia.
The story of Lindsey Dills is the main focus of this episode. He started playing soccer in a youth league, and in high school, he was amazing. However, he does not overcome his separating parents, and begins to self-destruct and smoke marijuana. Her parents took her to a treatment program several times, but that did not help. He got a job in a restaurant/bar and started hanging out with older employees after work, doing cocaine. He decided to quit football before his senior year, and nobody could talk him out of it. Dills commented,
The trainers called home, told my dad to 'talk to him.' And some of it is medicine, part of it I've been doing for so long. And I want to be a teenager. I want to do things on weekends and I want to not practice at 5 am and I do not want to run 3 miles every day.
His parents divorced, his mother moved, and he lived with his father. One weekend when his father went out of town, he forged two checks of $ 100 from his father's account and used his money to buy drugs.
Upon his return, his CPA father quickly discerned the difference. His actions frightened her and she was eager to help her daughter before she could not help. She starts asking him for a drug test, and tells him if he fails, he'll go to the police with a fake check. She passed several tests using dilute urine or getting a clean sample from someone else, but eventually she proved positive. By this time, she had stopped going to school, and her parents decided this might be their last chance to intervene. Fraud charges were filed, and Lindsey was arrested. Her parents told her that the allegations would be dropped if she agreed to check out a drug treatment program outside the city, away from her friends. But Lindsey did not want to leave Brunswick and go to a place chosen by her parents. Prosecutors suggested another option, drug court.
The first drug trial began in 1989 in Miami-Dade County, Florida to deal with the cocaine epidemic. These nonviolent violators commit crimes to support their drug addiction. This new system requires less expensive court-supervised drug maintenance than detention and helps people end their addiction and become productive members of the community. In 2005, there were 1,262 drug courts in the United States, but those in Brunswick were run by Judge Amanda Williams and many locals were afraid of him.
Lindsey Dills explains what happened:
So Jason Clarke was my public defender at the time and he warned me. She said, "Lindsey does not take drugs, I say you will not make it." He told me this like three or four times. I insist. I said, "I take drugs." Because all I know is I can get out of jail. That's all I know. I do not know anything else about it. So I went to appeal to the drug court. My father is in the courtroom. Judge Barton was on the bench that day, not Judge Williams. He has gone. My father did Judge Barton's judgment for the last 15 years and they are very good friends. So (Judge Barton) saw me come in and he pulled me to the bench and he was like, "Do not do this.do not appeal Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked me three or four times. Judge Barton tried to get me out of the drug court. That I will not do well. I will not succeed. He did not think that was what I had to do.
He chose to go to the drug court and was released from prison. The median duration in drug courts in the United States is 15 months; three years is rare. On Friday the week after her appearance in court, she violated the curfew at 9pm and was caught, then failed the drug test. According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), it is not uncommon for most people to enter drug courts to relapse early, so this is part of the program.
When Dills left before Judge Williams, the judge shouted at Dills, who began to cry. The judge handed down a seven-day prison sentence, which was unusually severe for the first relapse, even for Judge Williams, whose normal penalty for a first relapse was three days; seven days for a second recurrence; and 28 days for the third event.
West Huddleston is the executive director of NADCP, the premier support organization for more than 2,400 drug courts and 25,000 counselors, lawyers and judges. He commented:
Any drug court that relies primarily on prisons, or general punishment, operates outside of our philosophy and simply does not understand addiction. They (the addicts) lose their jobs, their income, they lose their loved ones. I mean, all the natural consequences that are much worse than one or two or three days in jail do not stop them from using drugs and alcohol. Why do we think putting them in jail will do it? ".
Judge Williams has special sanctions for people who relapse four or more times. He will send them away for "unlimited sentences" and make comments like, "They'll sit there until they get a better attitude" or "Take them away, you'll come back when I'm ready for you".
When Dills violated drug court rules, he served 51 days, 90 days and 104 days in prison. Dills had been in a drug program for 42 months when he went to court on October 8, 2008. The judge brought Dills into a room with a drug court staff and debated stopping Dills from the program, which would require him to serve 20-24 months. in prison on allegations of genuine forgery. Finally, Justice Williams told Dills to do 28 days in jail. After Dills is returned to prison, the judge calls and instructs Dills to "no more contact", which means no visitors, phone calls or letters. He is also placed in solitary confinement. When Dill asked if the isolation was for the full 28 days, the guard informed him that the command had been changed to "unlimited sentence".
Twenty-eight days passed, and Dills was still in solitary confinement. He ran out of two antidepressants prescribed by a drug court doctor, and the guard was not allowed to talk to him, so his depression returned, causing him to cry incessantly. Thanksgiving passed without any contact, but Dills assured himself that Judge Williams would not leave him in jail during Christmas. He had seen a drug counselor on Dec. 8 telling him there would be no drug court until January because Judge Williams was on vacation. Loss of lost hope, and when there was a chance, he tried to commit suicide by scratching his wrist. His efforts were discovered before he was bleeding, and his life was saved.
Drug policies
The drug policy in Glynn County, Georgia was founded by Amanda F. Williams, chief judge of Glynn County High Court. He has been on the bench since 1991, and started a drug court in 1998. With almost all standards, the program is cruel. Judges in general have enormous strength, and drug court judges use almost unlimited power because participants are required to give up their rights when they choose that option. Judge sanctions are seen as part of "treatment", not a penalty. Judge Williams insisted that all the defendants had a choice, but the local criminal justice system strongly "encouraged" the defendant to choose a drug court.
In Brunswick, anyone arrested and charged with non-violent drug crimes should appear in drug court once a week. If the allegation is a crime, there is no guarantee; the guarantee for the infringement is $ 15,000. A former Public Defender of Glynn County told Glass that most defendants could not post big and strong ties so they remained in jail. Judge Williams personally handled all drug cases.
In drug courts, there are two options: plead guilty or go to court. Judge Williams warned those who chose the court that if found guilty, they would not receive probation; they will be jailed for at least 20 to 24 months. The only way to get out of jail before the trial is to post a minimum bond of $ 15,000.
Defendant pleading guilty has a choice: immediately begin serving a minimum of 10 to 12 months in an experimental detention center where inmates are placed for work and are not eligible for parole, or enter a drug court program and are immediately released with personal recognition. Given those choices, most choose drug courts.
According to the Georgian Department of Audit and Account , 378 people participated in Glynn/Camden drug courts in 2009, the largest in the state. The population of Glynn and Camden County is about 100,000. In contrast, Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, has only 330 participants of the population exceeding one million.
Participants in drug courts are required to file random and weekly drug tests; observe curfew at 9 pm; participate in five drug group trial therapies and individual counseling sessions each week; attend at least four meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous every week; refrain from drinking alcohol; comply with all laws; and appear in court regularly.
Invalid participants
The experience of Brandi Byrd illustrates other troublesome cases. Byrd came out with a friend who was charged with DUI. Byrd gave police permission to search his wallet, and two darvocet pills were found. She explained that her mother had given it to them after a small operation and she forgot about them, but she was charged with two crimes, one for each pill. After sitting in jail for six days, Byrd went to court. The public defender and drug court advisor told him if he did not agree with the drug court, he would go to jail. Judge Williams told him, "Nobody keeps you in probation, if you do not hit rap, there's no trial on the road for accusations in this area, and not seven years, because I already have a drug court."
Despite the fact that Byrd has no history of drug addiction or abuse and no criminal records, he feels like he has no choice but to agree to drug court supervision or go to jail. Then comes the catch-22; she is told she must recognize drug use and addiction or she can not get into the program. West Huddleston, executive director of NADCP, describes individuals who are targeted by drug justice programs: "a long history of addiction... multiple treatment failures... several times in probation... serving prison sentences or previous prisons... driven by their addiction ".
When people without addiction and past criminal behavior are placed in intensive care programs, they tend to rebel and become resistant because therapy is not beneficial to them and they feel they do not deserve the restrictions placed on their behavior.
Success stories
This program has supporters and success stories. If a participant follows all the rules, they can complete the program and their beliefs are cleared within 30 months. Charlie McCullough's situation should be a complete success story, but it takes a detour. McCullough was caught in the stinging police buying drugs, and entered a drug court on a voluntary basis, deciding to kick the drugs. Everything went well for 22 months; he never missed a meeting or appointment and passed all the drug tests. Then on random urine examination, the lab technician told him that he was proven positive using methamphetamine. McCullough insisted that he was clean and asked to take another test, which he passed. A third test was given, which he also graduated, so McCullough was relieved. At the next court appearance, Judge Williams asked why he failed the drug test. He was shocked, and stated that he passed the second exam. The judge informed him that he would use the first test; the second does not count. No matter how much he pleaded not guilty, the judge did not believe him. The judge refused to bring laboratory technicians to testify, but asked McCullough if he would take the polygraph, which he approved, then changed his mind and sentenced him to three days in jail for a "bad" test and 14 days for interrogation. drug screening results. Since then, his drug court experience has declined.
Attorney Jim Jenkins, who represents clients in drug courts, agrees: "I disagree with those who tell me that he is good, but I think the record in many cases speaks for itself, that many people already have constitutional rights and their procedural is unclear. "
Reception
The show was well received by listeners, sparking a storm of controversy against Judge Williams, some of whom came from other legal professionals, called for Williams's resignation or impeachment, and the threat of murder against him.
The subject is discussed on dozens of websites, and the website, Impeach Judge Williams has been established. Page on Facebook under the title, Judge Amanda Williams Must Be Stopped created. One person calls him a "monster" and declares, "This woman is the reason why the whole country considers Georgia to be a remote area."
Critics of Williams following the event included claims that he sometimes imposed unlimited punishments in prisons and other excessive punishments that are contrary to principles supported by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The association supports the principle that "drug courts are designed to reduce drug use, reduce crime, improve families, keep responsible addicts and return them to meaningful roles in society."
The NADCP Board of Directors issued a statement in response to the disturbing events reported in the program. They reiterated statements made by Ira Glass that the Glynn County Drug Court "goes different from the other Drug Courts in the Country". They further state that 6% of US Drug Courts "have softened or dropped the core ingredients of the Drug Court model, or improperly applied practices in contraindications to received teachings in the field, and they have paid handsomely for it in terms of savings lower fees, lower pass rates, higher rates of recidivism, and the reputation of injustice and ineffectiveness. "
Judge Williams defended his approach to explain, "There are some addictions in my family.My husband has been in recovery for over 15 years, and around the time I started looking to start a drug court around 1996, he has gone into recovery. living it as a family, because all family members are touched by it. "
After the story aired, Williams hired David G. Oedel, a professor of law at Mercer University, who published an open letter to American Glass executive producer Ira Glass, claiming that his story was "full of lies," and "libel disguised as journalism. "
On April 12, 2011, Glass made a note on the blog TAL that clarification and correction have been made for stories on the web. Correction related reason 12 months of detention Kim Spead after completing the program. After reviewing the court documents, Glass concluded that it was in violation of the terms and conditions of the Drug Court's penalties and contracts, and not for failing to pay the $ 1,500 program fee assessed to drug court participants.
The clarification was made because sometimes there was a way out of the law when the judge imposed sanctions, but only under special circumstances.
However, Glass stands up with the details of the story, especially the characterization of the accused receiving inappropriate abusive treatment in the Williams courtroom.
Responding to Oedel's threat to sue TAL for defamation, the show's attorney defended Glass and his story, asserting that Williams's behavior "is certainly a matter of sharp public interest".
Ethics check
On 9 November 2011, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed a 14-figure ethics complaint against Williams, alleging he had imprisoned the accused indefinitely, made a false statement, and engaged in nepotism and "tyrannical side" "JQC appointed Leah Ward Sears, former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court who left the court in 2009, to sue the ethics allegations.The hearing is scheduled to be held in 2012 to determine whether Williams should be disciplined On November 16, 2011, one of five judges The High Court in the circuit district of Williams said Judge Williams had resigned from a drug court position and would stop listening to a criminal case until the investigation was completed.Sil Williams continued to work on civil cases previously assigned to him but did not accept the assignment of a new case.
Resignation
Judge Williams sent a letter to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in mid-December 2011, indicating his intention to withdraw from the bench effective January 2, 2012. JQC agreed to drop the charges after Williams submitted his resignation. He also signed an order of consent that forbade him to seek the judicial office, effective immediately. Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens named a special prosecutor to determine whether Williams should face criminal charges for allegedly lying to JQC researchers. Confidence will result in the seizure of state pensions and exemptions of $ 74,000 annually.
Awards
In February 2012, Long Island University announced that "Very Tough Love" won the George Polk 2011 Award for Radio Reporting.
Closure
On February 22, 2012, the woman whose case encouraged Glass to investigate and broadcast the episode "Very Tough Love" was released from probation by Glynn County Judge Timothy Barton, who succeeded Williams. He also cleansed two counterfeit beliefs from Lindsey Dill's record in accordance with Georgia's conditional disposal laws. When asked to comment, Barton stated, "I think seven years is long enough."
References
External links
- American life , episode 430: "Love is so Difficult"
- Follow-up
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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