Court Assisted Recovery Effort (CARE) aids addicts

Serghino René

It was something different, an unusual scene not often practiced in federal courtrooms.

Ten recovering drug addicts stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo Sorokin, verbally giving their weekly progress report on their success in finding a job, staying clean and keeping out of legal trouble.

Known as the Court Assisted Recovery Effort (CARE), the voluntary program aims to assist drug-addicted individuals just getting out of jail and supervise them in establishing a sober, employed, law-abiding life in an effort to promote public safety and rehabilitation.

The program is one of a kind in the federal system because it involves close supervision and prompt sanctions for slip-ups, as well as incentives integrated with substance abuse treatment and job training. No other federal court has such close judicial oversight of defendants and only two other federal courts even have a similar program.

“We believe judicial involvement is helpful,” said Sorokin. “For the participant, it is an opportunity to obtain assistance in creating and maintaining a sober and law abiding life. As a result, the court is confident that the individual will make a positive contribution to society and be less likely of a threat.”

Originally, the Massachusetts Federal Court approved CARE as a one-year pilot project. The program began in early May, but since the Court has received numerous inquiries regarding the program from representatives from other federal courts around the country, it is expected to continue for years to come.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Catherine Byrne represents the participants each week when they meet with the magistrate.

“I think this is a great program because a lot of these people have a long term problem with drug addiction,” said Byrne. “Through the support offered, many are maintaining sobriety, avoiding probation violations and going back to prison.”

Every Wednesday at 9 a.m., Sorokin meets with the assigned probation officers, the assistant United States attorney, the assistant federal public defender and representatives from the probation’s outside treatment contractors.

“We talk about the status of each participant in the program, possible changes in treatment, compliance problems, sanctions if appropriate, and rewards,” said Sorokin.

By 11 a.m., Sorokin is meeting with participants one by one in open court as they present their employment, drug and legal status. Sanctions are imposed when terms of the program are disregarded. Sanctions have included jail, mandatory community service, writing assignments, attending meetings with recovering addicts, increased supervision and demotion within the program.

To participate, defendants must have been convicted of a federal offense and either be on probation or supervised release, a type of probation for those who have completed their jail sentence.

While there is no statistical information to prove the success of the program, Byrne believes that the proof will come in time.

“It’s a great concept,” said Byrne. “It’s important to see drug addiction as a disease that needs treatment. In the long run, it will help society. People who have succeeded are less likely to go back to criminal conduct.”