Periklis Karoutas

CONCORD, N.H. —The state is expanding the number of drug courts, and one will be in every county.

The courts have been around in a limited form for several years, and they rely on intensive supervision and personal responsibility to break the cycle of addiction. Those who have seen the program work said it changes lives and is an important weapon in battling the heroin epidemic in New Hampshire.

Gov. Maggie Hassan signed Senate Bill 464 into law Tuesday, establishing the drug courts in every county.

“We also know that offenders who leave jail or prison after a year have a 70 percent chance of re-offending,” Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau said. “Drug court graduates have a 22 percent chance.”

New Hampshire currently has drug courts in six counties. The oldest, in Strafford County, has been operating for 11 years. The new law provides almost $3 million to expand the courts to all 10 counties, including two in Hillsborough County.

Offenders selected for drug court stay out of jail, but it’s far from a free ride. They submit to constant supervision, including twice-weekly random drug testing, counseling, community service and education.

If someone in drug court breaks the rules, they could end up in jail. Following the rules earns rewards.

“The reason that I think drug courts work is that it involves personal responsibility,” Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley said. “People have to accept the intervention in their lives that drug courts mean.”

“It also helps reduce crime, and it saves taxpayer money,” Hassan said. “Drug courts help people return to their communities as contributing members of society.”

There are 192 people working their way through the existing drug court system. It takes about a year-and-a-half to complete the program.

“For the first time ever, they can have some control over their life and their choices, and they start making better choices, and they see the results,” Nadeau said.

Supporters of the program said it’s only one way to fight the heroin epidemic. They said law enforcement and drug treatment centers also need support to help addicts and take drugs and drug dealers off the streets.

By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON – As New Hampshire grapples with the ongoing drug epidemic, officials are attempting to treat rather than incarcerate repeat criminal offenders battling with substance abuse.

On Tuesday, Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bipartisan bill that establishes a $2.23 million statewide drug court program, and includes a provision to allow Manchester quick access to grant money to begin a drug court as soon as possible, if the county delegation approves.

Chris Overka, one of the first graduates of the Nashua Drug Court, met recently with local and state officials to share his success story and praise the program.

“The first thing I ever did with my dad was shoot heroin,” Overka told Sen. Jeanne Shaheen during a visit to Hillsborough County Superior Court South.

He was caught shoplifting about 25 times, but acknowledged that he stole probably on 1,000 occasions.

“People that were adults and in charge of me abused me and perpetuated the need for me to find relief through drugs and alcohol,” said Overka.

Prison only exacerbated the problem, he said. The Nashua drug court system held him accountable and acknowledged his progress, he said.

Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 464, explained Tuesday that Senate Bill 464 provides more than $2 million in matching state grants for counties to establish new drug courts and expand existing ones, as well as creates a statewide coordinator to work with the courts to ensure that best practices are being implemented.

“You can’t change a decade of (drug) use with four weeks of intensive outpatient programs,” said Nellie Chancey, probation parole officer with the Nashua Drug Court.

Traditional court mandates may require outpatient treatment for about four weeks. However, the Nashua Drug Court may provide nine to 21 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy, along with one or two residential treatment stays, according to Chancey.

“I think the component that the drug court brings is really the level of treatment and supervision that high-need and high-risk offenders require,” she explained. “And we follow through after graduation. They continue on probation.”

Alex Casale will be the state coordinator for the program.

He currently holds that position in the Strafford County drug court. Senate Bill 464 also calls for the transfer of $40 million into the Rainy Day Fund this fiscal year.

– See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20160615/NEWS21/160619581&source=RSS#sthash.nXR2Xsof.dpuf

By PAIGE SUTHERLAND • JUN 2, 2016 

With more than 1,000 bills to sift through at the start of this legislative session, New Hampshire lawmakers wrapped up its last full session day of the year this Wednesday.

And after having to work on a compromise state budget when the Governor vetoed the two-year spending bill last summer, and then being called back for special session to address the state’s drug crisis in the fall, state lawmakers are looking forward to a light summer workload.

“It was an interminable session – I thought it would never end,” Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley says jokingly.

But despite some setbacks – overall – Bradley called the session a success. “From passing Medicaid expansion, combating the heroin crisis and then closed off today with more business tax relief, so I feel we have had a very productive, largely bipartisan session,” Bradley said after Wednesday’s session.

And Wednesday’s final session day followed suit with this year’s overall legislative session – in length that is. With just under 30 bills left to weigh in on, lawmakers had a full day of debate before closing out the session.

…Read More

College sports and beer go hand in hand – unless you’re in New Hampshire, where state law bans most university sports arenas from serving alcohol.

Lawmakers are seeking to change that prohibition. A committee of conference agreed Wednesday to let stadiums sell liquor or beer during college sporting events. The facilities would only be able to sell alcohol in locations approved by the Liquor Commission, and they would be required to obtain a special license.

“The University of New Hampshire and other institutions need this provision to be able to attract guests to their sporting facilities,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican. “It seems like a reasonable measure.”

Under current law, no alcohol can be sold or consumed in sky boxes or stadium seating at intercollegiate and interscholastic events. The ban at interscholastic events would remain in place.

Some colleges are already interested in applying for the proposed liquor license.

UNH hopes to serve alcohol in sky boxes at the Whittemore Center and at the new football stadium during games, spokesman Thomas Cronin said.

Dartmouth College did not respond to a request for comment.

The Liquor Commission supports the change, and intends to work with stadium owners and managers as they apply for licenses, spokesman E.J. Powers said.

The compromise, agreed on by a committee of House and Senate members Wednesday, still needs approval from the full chambers before it makes its way to Gov. Maggie Hassan’s desk for signature.

Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat who filed the bill, said allowing stadiums to sell alcohol during college sporting events brings New Hampshire in line with the “rest of the civilized world.”

“This gives them a better environment to do the tailgating,” he said. “They can enjoy each other’s company in the confines of the stadium. It’s a much better situation.”

(Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307, [email protected] or on Twitter @amorrisNH.)