{"id":696178,"date":"2022-03-25T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?p=696178"},"modified":"2022-03-25T14:19:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T19:19:50","slug":"a-day-in-oklahoma-county-drug-court-where-a-judge-hopes-all-rise%ef%bf%bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2022\/03\/25\/a-day-in-oklahoma-county-drug-court-where-a-judge-hopes-all-rise%ef%bf%bc\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day In Oklahoma County Drug Court, Where a Judge Hopes All Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the fifth floor of the Oklahoma County courthouse, defendants announced the number of days they\u2019ve been sober as they approached the bench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it was 848 days or 1, every announcement drew applause. Volume and enthusiasm waned as defendants were dismissed over the next two hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But leading the applause was Judge Kenneth Stoner, who quickly shifted to missed drug or alcohol tests and the sanctions that offered defendants another chance.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a state where drug use is rampant and incarceration rates are among the nation\u2019s highest, Judge Stoner runs a program designed to keep addicted Oklahomans out of prison.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stoner oversees about 400 participants in Oklahoma County\u2019s drug court program. There are at least another 250 defendants in the system who are a fit for the program, he said, but there isn\u2019t room.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t

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Audio Stories: December 29, 2025<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n

Across the state, 59 drug courts offer an alternative for those who struggle with substance abuse and have been charged with a nonviolent felony. Some courts serve multiple counties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents in the panhandle, Cimarron, Texas and Beaver counties, are the only Oklahomans without access to drug court. Rates of substance abuse in those counties are higher than the state average for adults and kids 12 to 17, according to federal data<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most courts serve adults but a few counties also offer juvenile and family drug courts catering to parents with children in state custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judicial discretion means requirements and sanctions look different in every courtroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participation depends largely on whether the local district attorney is willing to refer people to drug court. And capacity is often lower in rural counties where addiction treatment is scarce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success rates vary, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February, Oklahoma County\u2019s graduation rate was 83% compared to a statewide average of 67%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a typical courtroom, the prosecution and defense are divided. They sit at tables on opposite sides of the room, passing notes and whispering so as not to tip off the other side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Stoner\u2019s court, the tables are pushed together into one workspace where public defenders, prosecutors, case managers and treatment providers talk openly about each case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they stand in front of the judge, participants are often surrounded by a treatment provider, attorney and the prosecution. All share the goal of keeping the defendant out of prison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Works ‘If You\u2019re Willing to Work It<\/strong>‘<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Oklahoma City resident Jefferson Jefferson sits in the jury box in Judge Kenneth Stoner’s courtroom in the Oklahoma County courthouse on March 2, 2022. (Whitney Bryen\/Oklahoma Watch)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Participants said drug court, even in the most successful counties, has a negative reputation among inmates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt sets you up for failure. That\u2019s the rumor,\u201d said Austin Goodwin, who entered drug court early last year. \u201cBut it does work if you\u2019re willing to work it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodwin, whose second-degree burglary charges landed him in the program, hung his head as he approached the judge in early March. \u201cFive days,\u201d he said, prompting a nod of recognition from Stoner who already knew Goodwin had failed a recent alcohol test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late February while much of the state was enjoying a few snow days, Goodwin was cooped up at home. He had just separated from his girlfriend. He hadn\u2019t worked in a week. Instead of following his program and redirecting his attention to something healthier, Goodwin told the judge he had a few beers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stoner told Goodwin he appreciated his honesty and that he showed up for a test knowing he would fail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge gave Goodwin eight hours of community service and allowed him to enter the final six-month phase of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drug court has five phases, levels one through four and aftercare. Participants in the final phase spend most of their time meeting with drug court alumni, case managers and peer groups discussing the challenges they will face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every phase requires regular urine analysis, which costs participants $10. In the early stages, participants are tested at least 10 times a month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When defendants complain about the cost, Stoner reminds them their former lifestyle was more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverybody can come up with $100 per month,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tests become less frequent as participants progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During court on March 2, the judge confronted several participants for diluted tests meaning the lab could not retrieve an accurate result. This can happen if they drink too much water before the test, sometimes in hopes of masking a positive result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Being On Probation, But More Intense<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n