A day in the drug court of Judge Jeffrey Merrill can range from induction into the "Drug Court Family" to a six year sentence. This Tuesday, it was business as usual as people shuffled in and out of the county drug courtroom in Syracuse where Merrill presided over 49 offenders.
Started in January 1997, it is the biggest drug court in the state. Drug abusers who sign up are screened, report for drug treatment, submit to random tests and attend court dates to graduate from the Drug Court program.
Others would rather serve time than change. "The pain of changing is worse than not changing for them," Merrill later told a group of student reporters about abusers who refuse treatment.Some cases were positive. Merrill congratulated Donald Ventro, a fifty-something year old who tested clean, for doing a "good job” and told him to “continue the good work.”
Charles Johnson, 21, was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and misdemeanor charges, for disregarding Drug Court guidelines.
Octavia Murray, who brought her toddler in an apparent bid for sympathy, was sentenced to weekend sanctions. "I have no hesitation to throw you in the slammer right in front of your child," Merrill told her. Although Merrill has earned himself a reputation for his harshness with offenders he says that some he has sentenced have later told him that they needed prison to get clean. "I am simply the father of an enormous dysfunctional family and if you mess up, I take away the key."
Started in January 1997, it is the biggest drug court in the state. Drug abusers who sign up are screened, report for drug treatment, submit to random tests and attend court dates to graduate from the Drug Court program.
Others would rather serve time than change. "The pain of changing is worse than not changing for them," Merrill later told a group of student reporters about abusers who refuse treatment.Some cases were positive. Merrill congratulated Donald Ventro, a fifty-something year old who tested clean, for doing a "good job” and told him to “continue the good work.”
Charles Johnson, 21, was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and misdemeanor charges, for disregarding Drug Court guidelines.
Octavia Murray, who brought her toddler in an apparent bid for sympathy, was sentenced to weekend sanctions. "I have no hesitation to throw you in the slammer right in front of your child," Merrill told her. Although Merrill has earned himself a reputation for his harshness with offenders he says that some he has sentenced have later told him that they needed prison to get clean. "I am simply the father of an enormous dysfunctional family and if you mess up, I take away the key."
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