A story of hope

Ryan Schafer was going to jail. He was already on probation when he committed his fifth offense.

"I have a problem with drinking, and when I get drunk I commit crimes," is one of the first things Schafer said in an interview with Havre Daily News.

Schafer drank to the point of blacking out. One of his favorite crimes to commit was stealing cars. He'd taken a total of seven cars during his inebriated bandit career. His blackouts were so severe that he once unknowingly helped turn himself in.

After waking up from a stupor, Schafer called the police to report that his car was missing. Unbeknownst to him, officers already had reason to suspect Schafer of illegal activity. They responded to his call and after having arrived, asked if they could search his garage. Schafer nonchalantly let them in without any recollection of the stolen items he had collected from cars during his unconscious heists. As for his own car, it was found among the ones he'd stolen during the night.

"Oops," Schafer said laughingly, recalling the incident.

But something happened before Schafer was about to go to jail. Things took a fortunate turn away from the county pen.

Schafer was approached by someone from the Hill County Adult Treatment Court and offered an alternate. Since he was a non violent offender, the drug court team thought it would be better for Schafer, his two children and the community if he went through a drug treatment program instead of jail.

Although the drug court program is touted as anything but easy by participants and those running it, Schafer didn't need time to ponder the pros and cons of going or not going to jail. He was going with any choice that didn't include jail. His main motivation was his two children.

Drug court is part of a nationwide initiative that started in Florida in 1989 and has spread across the country. The purpose of the program is to reduce the backlog of drug-related court cases, recidivism and substance abuse among participants. Drug court is an alternative to prison for people who are chemically dependent. Drug courts keep nonviolent addicts in treatment for long periods of time, up to three years, and supervises them closely while they are in the program.

Studies show that drug courts have reduced crime by as much as 35 percent, compared to the alternative. Drug courts have curbed the number of people who return to prison. Although some earlier studies showed that the immediate cost of someone who graduates drug court, compared to someone who completes probation, was more, recent studies show there is little doubt taxpayers save more in the long run when participants go to drug court.

Drug court partakers are less likely to return to jail, as opposed to probation completers. Drug court graduates have higher wages, paying more in taxes. Drug court graduates are more likely to stop the cycle of drug and alcohol addiction in their families, ensuring their children do not end up in the revolving door of the court and prison system their parents once bogged taxpayers down with.

Lawmakers across the country have recognized drug courts. Sen. Steve Daines showed up to a drug court graduation ceremony in Gallatin County District Court earlier this month.

"I'm extremely proud of what Montana treatment courts have accomplished," Daines said, referring to the 30 drug courts across Montana.

Drug court offers tailored care that addresses the source of the addiction and has the teeth of the judicial system ready to nip at the participants if they stop moving forward.

One of the classes Schafer took, and also the one he found the most difficult, was called Moral Reconation Therapy, MRT.

"Being honest is harder than you think," Schafer, the former thief, said. "But being honest is a better way of life. It really is. It so is," he added.

Although Schafer's main problem was alcohol - there is also a DUI court that works the same way - among his multiple offenses was being caught with hashish and a pipe. That offense, along with a past that includes 10 years of methamphetamine use, helped get Schafer accepted in drug court instead of DUI court.

After more than a year in the program, Schafer graduated Drug Court Thursday. He's been sober for 11 months. He's been working with his father in the insurance business. He's been providing for his children. His parents and children were in court Thursday afternoon.

Schafer thinks much of the program and the caring people who run it.

"I can honestly say that I feel they care," Schafer said.

He agreed with everyone on the drug court team that he has changed completely.

"That's the thing about drug court. They gave me a chance to be out. Drug court made me a better father. Made me a better son - made me a better all-around person. It's forced me to work hard at staying sober."

Despite its success, Hill County Drug Court is in trouble.The federal three-year grant will expire this year in October.

Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger is looking to find a way to keep the program going. She said the idea was for the program to be self-sustaining after three years. But that doesn't look to be the case yet. And the county piggy bank is empty.

More on this program and what it means to Hill County will be covered in the near future.