Honesty is always the best policy: A day in Syracuse Drug Court

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Judge Jeffery Merrill says being in charge of the Syracuse Drug Treatment Court is like being “the father of an enormous dysfunctional family.”

“I may be the first person who cares,” he told a group of 13 student reporters after dealing with nearly 50 offenders in under two hours. 

Some offenders are welcomed to the drug court “family” with applause while others who have failed to follow its rules are put in handcuffs and sent to jail or prison. 

The Syracuse Drug Treatment Court program is a voluntary program that gives eligible participants a final opportunity to clean up their acts under judicial supervision.

Merrill’s repeatedly makes the point that honesty is the best policy.

“The fastest way to get yourself locked up is not to be truthful,” Merrill warned one defendant who had been caught using.

Even with relapses, the most important thing to do is to be honest because getting honest is getting better, Merrill said.

“If you have a speed bump of the road to recovery, let us know first,” Merrill told a woman who had reported herself for using drugs. “Use relapse to work your way out of your situation.

Drug courts are more successful than other ways of correction such as probation, Merrill said.

“It really works,” Merrill said to the student reporters. “We try for everybody. We give them a fair chance.”