The program, which focuses on rehabilitating non-violent drug offenders instead of incarcerating them, now has a drug court duo coordinating its program.
After being named drug court co-coordinators in November, Ryan Curson and Samatha Smith, both of Sallisaw, are busy working to bring balance to the drug court office while filling open slots in the program and keeping tabs on those clients already in the program. Smith was named the program administrator, while Curson is the supervisor, handling the enforcement end of the program.
"He's the legal side, and I have more therapeutic background," Smith said. "I'm the one who sees the gray. He's black and white."
Smith and Curson are currently overseeing 48 drug court clients, who are people who plead guilty to various drug charges in exchange for staying out of jail while completing a drug court program.
Since being budgeted more money through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the program now has the capacity to fill 60 empty slots, and Smith said they hope to have those slots filled by the end of the month.
Special District Judge Dennis Sprouse, the drug court presiding judge, heads up the program and can put clients who re-offend behind bars.
But it's Smith and Curson's jobs to make sure those clients follow the rules and conditions of their probation.
"We answer to him (Judge Sprouse)," Smith said.
Clients in the program face a variety of requirements, including attending a certain number of meetings, obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent, and maintaining a job. Clients are also subject to random drug tests and searches.
Smith and Curson maintain contact with clients every day, and they said their phone lines are open to clients and people needing help 24 hours a day.
Drug court is partnered with Focus, the drug court's local drug and alcohol treatment provider. The drug court office and Focus previously shared space, but due to a need for more space and a need to differentiate between rehabilitation and probation, the drug court office moved to 106 N. Elm in downtown Sallisaw.
"They're our mental health provider," Curson said of Focus. "We're the probationary end."
Smith said they have to work as a unit, but Focus and drug court are now in separate areas. She said the change puts more responsibility on clients and lets them know who to answer to, such as if they are going to be late for court.
Curson explained that the move made more sense. He said a person wouldn't go to the doctor's office and tell the doctor that he or she has a warrant for their arrest. At Focus, clients get the treatment they need, and Smith and Curson enforce that clients are doing what they need to do.
But drug court is also there to support its clients. Smith noted that Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held at noon Monday through Friday at the drug court office. She said the meetings are open to the public, and she encourages people to come and see what the program is about.
Smith knows first-hand what the program can do. She is a drug court graduate and has been free from drugs for three years.
"I know what the program did for me," she said. "It takes a balancing act. Even your job has to do with recovery."
After graduating from the program, Smith worked for Focus and in November officially made the transition to drug court co-coordinator. She said she is still in recovery 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"I still go to meetings," she said.
Before teaming up for drug court, Curson and Smith had met before - in jail. Curson was a jailer at the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw when Smith was arrested for drugs.
Curson went on to become certified as a reserve officer by the Council for Law Enforcement Education Training (CLEET) and also served as Judge Sprouse's bailiff.
Smith and Curson got to know each other later while going to the same church. Curson said he saw drug court clients in church, got to know them, and came to realize that they are people.
When drug court needed a new coordinator, Smith recommended Curson for the job. Curson agreed to take the job on the condition that Smith take it with him.
Curson was working for People Inc. in Sallisaw at the time, where he worked in a group home for boys, helping rehabilitate juveniles who committed crimes.
Smith said Judge Sprouse was shocked that the two of them wanted to team up, but liked the idea of co-coordinators.
The two, along with Judge Sprouse, don't do their jobs alone. Smith said another drug court employee, Tonya Stephens, keeps in contact with clients, helps read urinalysis, and opens Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
"She's invaluable here," Smith said of Stephens.
Drug court also receives support from local law enforcement. Curson said jailers are cooperative and local officers and deputies let them know what's going on.
They said the county sheriff's office even helped them find furniture for their new office, and Sheriff Johnny Philpot commissioned Curson to serve warrants.
The two officially started Nov. 17, and they said they make sure they do everything together and maintain constant communication. Smith works with female clients and Curson deals with male clients.
