Judge seeing benefits of drug court firsthand

PALMER — Those walking into Superior Court Judge Kari Kristiansen’s courtroom most Thursdays around 2:30 p.m. may be taken aback. While actual court proceedings are ongoing, the atmosphere is usually a little more laid back than “regular” court.

Kristiansen and several Palmer Court colleague judges have taken on additional responsibilities in running the Palmer Wellness Court. Kristiansen, appointed 10 years ago, is already part of a system that rates as the state’s highest caseload, as far as trials are concerned. Now she, and colleagues Gregory Heath and David Zwink, have added the Wellness Court to their plates.

“We handle criminal and civil,” Kristiansen said about serving on the Superior Court bench. “We hear the more serious cases, CINA (Child in Need of Aid) and divorce proceedings. We handle a broad range of disputes. There are four of us (Palmer Court judges). It’s a little overwhelming.”

The 12-to-18-month wellness (drug) court program not only helps those felons with serious addiction problems, it also serves as a jail diversion program, while at the same time offering intensive substance abuse treatment and community supervision to support participants’ abstinence and recovery.

Therapeutic courts differ from traditional courts in their holistic approach to offenders and to the underlying issues which bring these individuals into the justice system—most notably substance abuse and mental health.

In addition to swift access to substance abuse assessments and treatment, and probable reduced jail times and fines, those completing the program may have the charges that brought them to court in the first place dismissed. Other benefits of wellness court include housing and job search assistance and eligibility for regaining a limited driver’s license. The public also benefits from safer roads and communities.

Kristin Hull, project manager/coordinator for both the Palmer Mental Health Court and Wellness Court, and the wellness court coordinator, said the push to get a wellness court up and running in the Mat-Su has been ongoing since 2009.

“It’s been in the state for quite some time and it’s been an ongoing desire to have one here,” Hull said. She said those involved with the Palmer Court system, as well as some of its Superior Court judges were the main impetus for its development. Kristiansen said she has seen a marked increase in the number of juveniles entering the court system with serious addiction problems—both heroin and opioids.

“It’s just not middle-aged hippies anymore,” she said. “I personally think it’s one of the worst things…not just the heroin but the pills. It impacts entire families.”

Kristiansen said the epidemic has also affected the court system. She said more child custody cases need to be litigated and that there has been a marked rise in CINA cases brought before her.

“We’re having to resolve these matters. The types of criminal cases we see and hear and the number of cases where families are impacted…we see it in our wellness court,” Kristiansen said.

Kristiansen said the Palmer court mirrors its counterpart in Anchorage. She said various Valley agencies have discovered the new court’s advantages and are embracing the concept more easily.

“But it is a therapeutic, not traditional court. It’s done in a way where everyone to find solutions and protects the community,” Kristiansen said. “A place where individuals (those opting into the court) can come to understand that we are all really rooting for them to succeed.”

Kristiansen said utilizing the carrot versus the stick—providing positive reinforcement, real resources and tools, rather than just words, is the court’s focus. She said best practice studies have shown more positive outcomes when judges have conversations with an accused individual. And that is what one usually finds ongoing in the courtroom.

Not only is there support from the judge, prosecutors, probation officers and staff; that also carries over to fellow program enrollees.

“Every time I appear and run that court, I walk away with more affirmation of the need (of such a court) in our community,” Kristiansen said, adding that she’s seeing positive changes in those appearing before her. “I look and I see they are clean and sober.

“They’re changing their lives and very few are struggling. They may have not been ‘clean’ for years and I currently have eight happy and healthy individuals…I’m seeing results usually in a couple of weeks, attitudes are changed. It’s the highlight of what I do. To see that kind of change is encouraging. To be a part of the process is incredible. Our recovery and help community is great,” she said.

“I hope the community gives this court a chance and let it prove itself,” Kristiansen said, adding she encourages the public to stop in when court is in session. “We are using members of the community to help make this work and we’re finding folks in the community willing to be mentors. To help with things like transportation issues.”

For more information on the Palmer Wellness Court, contact Hull at 907-746-8142 or email her khull@akcourts.us