A8

Providing Community News for Caroline County since 1919 Best part of love
Thursday, February 10, 2011 75 CENTS
is making up

Boards meet
to talk money
Supervisors, School Board
discuss budget, capital plan
By Tim Cox
Editor

MILFORD – Members of the Board of Supervisors and the School

Board met Tuesday to discuss the school system’s spending request for
WKHQH[W¿VFDO\HDUDQGRWKHU¿QDQFLDOPDWWHUV
Photo by Dawn Pitts Floyd Thomas, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, indicated that
Taking the plunge the school system’s proposed budget would not be fully funded in the
budget being prepared by County Administrator Percy Ashcraft, who
will deliver his proposal to the supervisors today.
Forty people bravely took the annual Polar Bear Plunge into Lake Caroline. Story, more photos on B3.
“I know it’s not” the $2.6 million requested by the School Board,
Thomas told the two panels, which met around a conference room table

Schools to start foundation

in the Community Services Center.
His revelation prompted School Board member Valerie Fells to ask,
“Well, what is it?”
Thomas did not say. “I can say without a doubt, I don’t think we’ve
By Rebecca J. Barnabi to help with scholarships, and I don’t just mean four- ever fully funded the School Board budget request,” he said.
Reporter year institutions,” said Killough. “I want to see the The school system budget, as proposed by Superintendent Greg
An educational foundation is being created to ben- majority of the money go to getting students career- Killough and approved by the School Board, asks for $2.6 million in
H¿W &DUROLQH &RXQW\ VWXGHQWV ZKLOH LQ KLJK VFKRRO and college-ready.” QHZORFDOVSHQGLQJQH[W¿VFDO\HDU7KDWZRXOGUHTXLUHLQFUHDVLQJWKH
and after high school. According to Killough, the School Board county’s real estate tax rate 10 cents.
Spearheaded by Superintendent of Schools Greg ultimately would approve any and all projects. The budget includes $1.3 million for pay increases for teachers, sup-
Killough, the foundation likely will be called the Car- People could make donations to support career port personnel, administrators, and for supplements, and $543,173 is to
oline County Educational Foundation. It will raise and technology education programs, scholarships to fund contributions to state pensions for teachers. It also calls for seven
funds to – among other things - alleviate some of the Germanna Community College or four-year colleges, new positions at a cost of $371,690.
¿QDQFLDO EXUGHQ RQ WHDFKHUV DQG SDUHQWV FDXVHG E\ for supplies and materials for teachers to use in the There was a discussion of what the priorities should be for pay in-
budget cuts in recent years. classroom, or for special projects, such as beautifying creases for school employees, although no consensus was reached. The
The foundation would set up an account to allow school facilities. proposed pay increases range from 4 percent to 8 percent for school
people to contribute money for particular projects to “We’re probably one of the few divisions HPSOR\HHV&ODVVL¿HGHPSOR\HHVZKRLQFOXGHEXVGULYHUVIRRGVHUYLFH
EHQH¿WWKHVFKRROV\VWHPDQGLWVVWXGHQWV that doesn’t have a foundation,” said Killough who
“I would hope that most of the money would go see Schools page A5 see Budget page A4

Woman, son Town plans

are arrested parade for
for OxyContin
A Caroline County woman
vets, more
and her son have been arrested on By Rebecca J. Barnabi
charges of possessing the prescrip- Reporter
tion drug OxyContin with the in-
tent to distribute. BOWLING GREEN – The town
Julie M. Grooms, 39, and James of Bowling Green will host a pa-
J. Valdez, 18, both of Ruther Glen, rade in the spring to honor veter-
initially were being held without ans of the Korean and Vietnam
bond at the Pa- wars.
munkey Re- In other business at the Town
gional Jail. Council meeting on Thursday of
Investi- last week, the council voted to
gators with authorize Town Manager Steve
the Caro- Manster to spend up to $1,700 for
line County Frank Brewer is heading up the Caroline County Recovery Community Center in Bowling Green. a three-dimensional version of the
Sheriff’s Of- town seal to be placed in the Town
¿FH VHL]HG
more than
$6,000 worth
Julie Grooms Group opens center to help drug Hall. The council is considering a
proposal from Art & Sign Inc. of
Stafford, which made signs for the
of OxyCon-
tin, $2,500 in
cash, mari-
addicts and alcoholics to recover town on U.S. 301 and Route 207.
“What we have to remember
is this is a long-term thing,” said
juana, and By Tim Cox has been in recovery from addiction over 28 years Councilor Glenn McDearmon.
numerous Editor and has been helping others for more than 25 years. “This…will represent the town for
drug distribu- Shinholser and the foundation are advocates of a many years to come. When some-
tion-related BOWLING GREEN – A Richmond-based nonprof- peer approach to helping others, employing recover- one walks in they need to know
items during it foundation that provides services to help people ing drug addicts and alcoholics to educate, mentor, where they are.”
a search of a shake off addictions to drugs and alcohol has opened and help others in order to enable them to recover Ron Curlings, a veteran and
home at 2462 James Valdez for business in Caroline County. from addictions. “If you can just get around recover- resident of Caroline, came to
Jefferson Davis Highway. The McShin Foundation opened the Caroline ing people…the therapeutic value of one addict help- council with a request to hold
“Anytime you catch anyone for County Recovery Community Center in recent ing another is…invaluable,” he explained. the parade. Caroline Sheriff Tony
distribution, that’s big to me,” said weeks. The center operates out of leased space in a The foundation operates a center, and several Lippa agreed the route would be
Sheriff Tony Lippa. building at 103 County Lane in the middle of Bowl- group homes in the Richmond area, and provides the same as the Christmas parade,
The two were arrested early ing Green. The building also houses a barbershop and other services to people in recovery, such as discus- according to Curlings - proceeding
Monday of last week as the result a local Masons chapter. sion groups, 12-step meetings, access to computer south on Main Street to the court-
of a drug investigation by the nar- The foundation was encouraged to open a facility and phones, and other support services. house lawn for a ceremony.
cotics division of the Sheriff’s Of- by Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spen- Shinholser hopes the organization’s Caroline Curlings also organized a pro-
¿FH cer, who has been an advocate for the organization. center will become part of the community, and that gram in the fall to recognize the
“The abuse and illegal sale of Bowling Green Town Manager Steve Manster re- courts, mental health agencies, therapists, churches, Korean and Vietnam veterans; it
prescription pills has increased cently approved a request for the foundation to begin families and others will refer people to the center. “It was held at the Community Ser-
tremendously in recent years,” using the building. takes a while for it to get up to full speed,” he said, vices Center.
Lippa said in a statement issued The foundation was started by John Shinholser in “We do a slow, methodical build-up.” “There were three things they
E\KLVRI¿FH³7KLVLVPDLQO\GXH 2004. It takes its name from Shinholser and his wife, He praised Spencer’s interest in the foundation didn’t get when they came home
to prescription pills being easier to Carol McDaid, who live in Hanover County. Shin- and his efforts to bring them to Caroline. “He saw (from war),” said Curlings. “They
obtain than most street drugs.” holser is a Marine veteran who owned and managed
a painting contracting business for over 30 years. He see Recovery page A3 see Parade page A2

Religion A5 Classifieds B6 804-633-5005

Get all the latest headlines
Opinion A6 Legals B7 24 Hours A Day. FAX: 804-633-6740
Obituaries A3 Sports B1 www.carolineprogress.com
For Advertising and News

204 NORTH MAIN STREET • BOWLING GREEN,VIRGINIA 22427

CC M
M YY KK
February 10, 2011 The Caroline Progress A3

remembering
OBITUARIES AND IN MEMORIAM
Recovery from page A1
the value in what we were Spencer’s remarks.)
Charlotte Reynolds Durrett doing,” said Shinhol-
ser, “and wanted Caroline
12-step meetings offered In the paid advertise-
ment, Spencer said Caro-
Charlotte Reynolds Durrett, 87, of Bowling Green, who County to take advantage line is in a “crisis.”
had been a leader at Salem Baptist Church in Sparta, died of this.” Twelve-step meetings for alcohol or drug addiction While Caroline’s popu-
Jan. 18. “We’re just ecstatic over are offered most days at several different locations in lation grew 17 percent
Ms. Durrett was educated at the University of Mary Tony Spencer’s involve- Caroline County. from 2003-2007, annual
Washington in Fredericksburg. She worked for the Defense ment,” he added. For alcohol addiction, 12-step meeting are held as incidents of serious crimes
General Supply Center in Richmond, where she was rec- The center is staffed by follows: tracked by the Virginia
ognized with the Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Frank Brewer, 43, whom Monday – 7 p.m., Caroline County Recovery Com- State Police “grew by an
Award. Shinholser called a “recov- munity Center (CCRCC), Bowling Green astonishing 112 percent,”
After retiring in 1971, she spent time doing what she ery coach.” Brewer began Tuesday – 7 p.m., Wright’s Chapel United Methodist said Spencer.
loved most, serving her church and being with family. serving as a McShin Foun- Church, Ladysmith The State Police also
As a life-long member of Salem Baptist Church in Spar- dation volunteer about Wednesday – 7:30 p.m., Bowling Green United Meth- SXEOLVK DQQXDO ¿JXUHV
WD0V'XUUHWWWDXJKW6XQGD\VFKRRODQGEHFDPHWKH¿UVW three years ago and has odist Church showing the incident rate of
woman to serve as moderator of the Hermon Baptist As- been on the staff about two Saturday – 7 p.m., CCRCC, Bowling Green serious crimes per 100,000
sociation. She was the director of the church’s WMU from years. In addition to his du- Sunday – 7 p.m., St. Asaph’s Episcopal Church, Bowl- of population; Caroline’s
1969-1998 and also served as association director for many ties in Bowling Green, he ing Green rate grew from 2,195 in
years. lives in and supervises a For drug addiction, 12-step meetings are held as 2003 to 4,314 in 2007,
Ms. Durrett was preceded in death by her husband of 56 group home for the organi- follows: “the fastest such growth in
years, Robert Ashby Durrett; a brother, Carl Lewis Reyn- zation in Henrico County. Monday – noon, CCRCC, Bowling Green crime in Virginia,” accord-
olds; and parents, Nancy and Clem Reynolds of Locust Hill Brewer grew up in Tuesday – noon, CCRCC, Bowling Green ing to Spencer. “Our crime
Farm. Highland Springs. He be- Wednesday - noon, CCRC, Bowling Green rate is now close to the top
Survivors include her devoted sister, Bessie Blanton Al- gan drinking alcohol at age Thursday – noon, CCRC, Bowing Green, and 7 p.m., among the state’s 106 rural
len of Bowling Green, and numerous nieces, great-nieces, 8, smoking marijuana at Wright’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Lady- jurisdictions.”
nephews and great-nephews. age 10, and using cocaine smith. “About 85 percent of
A memorial service was held Jan. 22 at Salem Baptist at 11, he said. He has been Friday – noon, CCRC, Bowling Green the people committing
Church, and interment was at the church cemetery. jailed numerous times for crimes in our county have
crimes related drug and al- an alcohol or drug prob-
Dixie Belle Mouser cohol use. lem,” wrote Spencer. “If
Dixie Belle Mouser, 72, of Bowling Green died Thurs- He was introduced to “We want to help lives Caroline County could use we could get these people
day at St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond after a long, coura- the McShin Foundation and rebuild families,” he this Recovery Community to stay in recovery, the
geous battle. and its services while he added. Center,” he said via e-mail. crime rate would plummet.
She was a retired civil servant at Ft. Belvoir and in recent was on probation in 2006. Caroline County Sheriff “Every community in Vir- The centerpiece of our
years worked as a teacher’s aide at Bowling Green Primary He began attending a day Tony Lippa was cool to the ginia wants one of these. plan, therefore, is to get
School. program but continued to idea. In 28-plus years, this is the alcoholics and addicts into
Mrs. Mouser was active in the community as secretary use drugs, he said. “I am not sure if there is ¿UVW FRPPXQLW\ ZKHUH D long-term recovery.”
of the Caroline County Republican Party and a member of Finally, in August 2007, a need or that it would be major stakeholder balked.” The center already has
Salem Baptist Church in Sparta; she also was past president Brewer prayed for help. EHQH¿FLDOQRZ´KHVDLGYLD Helping people recover begun holding more week-
of the Sparta Ruritan Club. He got down on his knees e-mail to The Progress, be- from addictions to drugs ly 12-step meetings in Car-
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Troy Mouser; and said, ‘God, I can’t do cause the McShin Founda- and alcohol “increases oline for people who need
a son, Troy L. Mouser and his wife, Gail, of Texas; a daugh- this no more. I need some tion also provides services public safety,” said Shin- help overcoming drug or
ter, Penny Thomas and her husband, Chris, of Norfolk; help,’ he recalled. at the Pamunkey Regional holser, and reduces repeat alcohol addiction. With
three sisters, Grace Oakley, Libby Hazelwood and Gwen- His prayer was an- Jail. offenders. the opening of the recov-
dolyn Martin, all of South Boston; and two grandchildren, swered, he said, when two “I have asked for docu- “The county spends a ery center, meetings now
Camden and Nicholas. She was preceded in death by her SROLFHRI¿FHUVVKRZHGXSDW mentation from Mr. Mc- lot of money keeping peo- DUH RIIHUHG ¿YH QLJKWV SHU
sister, Ann Seat. the home the next morning. Shin that would support ple in the Pamunkey Jail,” week for alcohol addiction
A memorial service was held Sunday at Salem Baptist 7KH RI¿FHUV ZHUH VHHNLQJ the claims of why we need he noted. DQG¿YHWLPHVSHUZHHNIRU
Church. someone else, but Brewer, this program in Caroline When informed of Lip- narcotics addiction with
On online register book is available at www.storkefuner- who was wanted on a pro- County and to date I have pa’s comments, Spencer plans to add more.
alhome.com. bation violation, turned not seen any documenta- ¿UVW DVNHG The Caroline The Caroline County
himself over to them. tion where it would be ben- Progress for an opportu- Recovery Community
Sharon K. Jimenez “That was God talking H¿FLDO´KHDGGHG nity to respond in the form Center is open 9 a.m.-5
Sharon K. Jimenez, 20, of Bowling Green died Jan. 30. to me,” Brewer recalled. Apprised of Lippa’s re- of an op-ed article for the p.m. Monday-Friday, 10
Born in San Diego, Ms. Jimenez attended Wilson Col- The message, he said, was, marks, Shinholser said that newspaper. After writing a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and
lege to study and pursue her love of horses. She was an ac- “This is your way out if “as a general rule,” 10 per- it, however, he elected to Sunday and expects to ex-
tive member of 4-H in Caroline. you want it.” cent of a community’s pop- purchase a full-page adver- pand hours in the future.
Survivors include her son, Liam Wright; her parents, It was a pivotal point in XODWLRQ FDQ EHQH¿W IURP tisement in the newspaper Brewer may be con-
Carlos and Beth Jimenez, and her brother, Tony Jimenez. his life. Brewer has been services for drug or alco- because of its length. (See tacted at (804) 632-6015 or
A private funeral service was planned. “clean” – free of drugs hol addiction. “Of course page A7 for the full text of frankb@mcshin.org.
Memorial contributions may be made to Caroline 4-H, and alcohol – since then,
c/o Virginia Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 339, Bowling Aug. 6, 2007. Brewer was
Green, Va., 22427 referred to a
An online register book is available at www.storkefuner- program and completed it
drug court
CATERING DEALS!
alhome.com. successfully.

Art show will exhibit

At the center, his role is
to “introduce people to re- Save $10
for every
covery.” His duties include

works by mentally ill leading 12-step meetings,

reaching out in the com-
munity to people who need
FREDERICKSBURG - The Rappahannock Area Com- help, and raising public
munity Services Board (RACSB) is seeking entries for the awareness of the center.
$
100 ordered
seventh annual Art of Recovery exhibit. The art show fea- He also is learning what Wing Dings • BBQ • Subs • Ribs
tures original artwork by adults with mental illness. resources are available in Potato Salad • Baked Beans
The show is organized by members of Kenmore Club, the community so he can 810 England Street Assorted Cookie &
RACSB’s psychosocial clubhouse for adults with severe refer clients as needed. He Ashland, VA 23005 Brownie Tray
and persistent mental illness. hopes to add some comput-
(Exit Number 92)
The exhibit will open May 6 at The PONSHOP ers in the future so clients Let us prepare the food for
on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg and corresponds can use them in job-hunt-
with First Fridays. The exhibit will run through May ing efforts.
804-752-6457 your next special event!
29 and coincides with National Mental Health Month. “We’re trying to help
RACSB is accepting original drawings, paintings, sculp- the community be a safe 20% OFF 20% OFF 20% OFF
ture, textiles, prints, mixed media, photographs and ceram- and healthy community,”
ics. Submissions are due April 15. Entries must include an said Brewer.
:PVS
&OUJSF
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One coupon per customer per visit at One coupon per customer per visit at One coupon per customer per visit at
attached label with the name of the artist, year of completion participating Perkins® Restaurant & participating Perkins® Restaurant & participating Perkins® Restaurant &
Bakery. Not valid with any other coupons, Bakery. Not valid with any other coupons, Bakery. Not valid with any other coupons,
(if known), locale of the artist, and sale price (if the artwork specials, discounts or offers. Coupon void specials, discounts or offers. Coupon void specials, discounts or offers. Coupon void
is available for sale). Participating in the art show does not if purchased, sold or bartered for cash. Sales if purchased, sold or bartered for cash. Sales if purchased, sold or bartered for cash. Sales
tax, if applicable, must be paid by customer. tax, if applicable, must be paid by customer. tax, if applicable, must be paid by customer.
require that the artwork be for sale. The PONSHOP will Letters to the Editor: Please present coupon when ordering. Prices Please present coupon when ordering. Prices Please present coupon when ordering. Prices
may vary in Canada. Printed in the U.S.A. may vary in Canada. Printed in the U.S.A. may vary in Canada. Printed in the U.S.A.
apply a reasonable commission on all artwork sold. cpeditor@lcs.net ©2007 The Restaurant
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A limited number of frames will be available for use.
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Artists are encouraged to frame pieces selected for display. EXPIRES 3/4/11. EXPIRES 3/4/11. EXPIRES 3/4/11.
Selections for the exhibit will be made by April 29. To
submit artwork or to learn more, contact Helen Connelly
at (540) 373-7737, e-mail publicinformation@racsb.state.
va.us or mail submissions to Connelly at RACSB, 600
Jackson St., Fredericksburg, Va., 22401.

IN MEMORY OF
Pee Wee Wright
Jan. 30,1938–Feb. 7, 2010
If tears could build a stairway and
memories a lane, I’d walk right up to
heaven and bring you home again.
With Love,
Wife, Mae
Daughters, Sue Ann & Cathy
Granddaughters, Shelby, Kaly, & Marion

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MEKCO E.
WASHINGTON
July 29, 1961–
February 10, 2006
Forever in Our Hearts
Your Family

8026 Prosperity Way

C M Y K
February 10, 2011
A program to reduce both crime and
costs in Caroline County
W e are faced in Caroline County
with an increasing multitude
of criminal justice problems.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has
developed a plan for addressing these problems,
but it will involve a substantial revamping of
how we do business.
About 85% of the people committing
crimes in our County have an alcohol or drug
problem. If we could get these people to stay
in recovery, the crime rate would plummet.
The centerpiece of our plan, therefore, is to get
alcoholics and addicts into long-term recovery.
The Problems We Are Facing
1. Fast population growth,
astonishingly fast growth in crime.
In the past ten years, Caroline County has
been one of the fastest-growing localities in
America. Between 2003 and 2007, Caroline’s
population grew by 17%. The United States
Census Bureau announced in 2006 that
Caroline County was the tenth fastest-growing
county in the United States between 2004 and
2005.
Yet, the rate of crime in Caroline County has
grown even faster than its population.
Each year, the Virginia State Police publish
crime data on the 22 most serious categories
of offenses, designated as Group “A” offenses.
According to the State Police data from 2003 to
2007, while Caroline’s population was growing
by 17%, the annual incidents of Group “A”
offenses grew by an astonishing 112%.
The State Police also publish annual figures
showing the incident rate of Group “A” offenses
per 100,000 of population. That incident rate
has grown in Caroline County from 2,195 in
2003 to 4,314 in 2007, the fastest such growth
in crime in Virginia. Our crime rate is now
close to the top among the State’s 106 rural
jurisdictions.
2. Our criminal justice resources
are falling behind.
While the population and crime rate in
Caroline have been rising, the resources
available for public safety have not been
keeping up.
Prosecution. In every jurisdiction in
Virginia, the Office of the Commonwealth’s
Attorney prosecutes crime. There are 120
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s offices in Virginia,
and the State Compensation Board ranks them
every year according to their staffing needs.
For fiscal year 2008, Caroline was ranked as
the State’s locality most in need of additional
prosecutors, with a staffing need factor of
86.12, almost twice the need of the second-
ranked jurisdiction, Amelia County, with a
factor of 49.95.
In fiscal year 2009, the need for additional
prosecutors grew in jurisdictions all across
Virginia, and Caroline’s Commonwealth’s
Attorney’s Office was no exception. With
a staffing need factor of 98.04, Caroline is
still ranked as having the most understaffed
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in the State.
Incarceration. Due to the current budget
crisis, our County has had to make substantial
cuts in the number of teachers and other public
servants. At the same time, our numbers of
inmates in jail and our incarceration costs are
skyrocketing.
Each year, we are setting records for the
amount of time being imposed in sentencing.
In fiscal year 2007, Caroline County was billed
by the local jails for 20,791 inmate days. In
fiscal year 2010, we were billed for 34,310
inmate days.
For the first time ever, in 2007 Caroline
budgeted in excess of $1 million for
incarceration costs, and we still went
over budget by $100,000. In 2009, our
incarceration costs were $1,530,575, more than
$200,000 over budget.
Court-ordered Substance Abuse
Services. In a large percentage of our
criminal cases, the courts are ordering
defendants to undergo assessments and
treatment for substance abuse. Until recently,
the only substance abuse services in Caroline
available to defendants by court order were
offered by the Rappahannock Area Community
Services Board (“RACSB”), which employs a
psychological treatment model. The number
of court-ordered substance abuse patients
seen by RACSB has skyrocketed, yet the great
majority of them return to using within a year.
After almost thirty years of working in
the criminal justice system, I am convinced
that the peer-support “recovery” model more
effectively assists alcoholics and drug abusers
in coming to terms with their addictions, and
at a much lower cost.
For many years, I have been involved in
trying to get alcoholics and addicts to get help,
and I have come to see that psychological
The Caroline Progress
treatment is a short-term “band-aid” that does
not work for people suffering from a chronic,
life-long illness. The best chance of success for
an addict or alcoholic is to become a part of
the recovery community with the assistance of
peer-based recovery support services.
The peer-based recovery support groups,
Alcoholics Anonymous (“A.A.”) and Narcotics
Anonymous (“N.A.”), recommend that new
members attend 90 meetings in 90 days. In all
of Caroline County, there have been only three
People addicted to alcohol or drugs
are our sons and daughters, our
brothers and sisters, our husbands
and wives, our fathers and mothers,
our friends and neighbors.
A.A. meetings a week. There has been only one
N.A. meeting a week.
Pre-trial Supervision and Probation.
As a general rule, our local probation office
provides pre-trial supervision, as well as
probation services for people convicted of
misdemeanors, and the State’s Division
of Probation and Parole supervises those
convicted of felonies. While their budgets have
been cut, both our district’s Probation and
Parole office and our local probation office
have been supervising record-high numbers of
people each of the past two years.
Because of the budget crunch, probation
officers have less contact with their clients
and are less able to offer them support
and to monitor them for substance abuse,
mental health, employment, and payment of
restitution.
3. Our political geography,
demographics, and means of
transportation present special
problems.
At 539 square miles, Caroline is one of
Virginia’s largest counties in area, yet it has a
population well under 30,000 and a population
density of about 50 people per square mile.
There are some towns, several subdivisions,
and many remote small communities served
locally perhaps by a general store, a firehouse,
a rescue squad, and one or two churches.
For historical reasons, our County has
ended up in a planning district and sharing a
community services board with Fredericksburg,
King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, while
being in a Probation and Parole district and
sharing our jail and local probation office with
Hanover.
The other four localities in our planning
district share not only a jail and the same State
and local probation offices, but a Drug Court.
Despite our best efforts to join that court, the
presiding judge is adamant that Caroline not
be allowed to participate: The Drug Court
apparatus involves a somewhat complicated
arrangement of different agencies, and he
does not want to bring in another jail and
additional State and local probation offices.
I have approached the authorities in
Hanover about starting a Drug Court program,
and they are not interested.
Caroline is too small to have a Drug Court
of its own.
Virginia’s Drug Court programs must comply
with numerous requirements imposed by the
Supreme Court of Virginia, and they have
become much more bureaucratic and costly.
Drug Courts currently cost the State $8,700 a
year per participant.
The courts have been required by law to
suspend the driving privileges of many of the
people in our County who need to get to their
probation office and their recovery meetings
and who are supposed to be looking for
employment. Public transportation in Caroline
consists of very limited bus service from our
planning district which does not reach most of
the County.
To understand the magnitude of the
problems we are facing, imagine a recovering
addict who is on parole and living without a
driver’s license in the Central Point community
of eastern Caroline County:
He would have spent time in prison.
He would never have had the opportunity
to participate in a Drug Court program.
He would be 15 miles from the nearest
public transportation, a bus line to
localities north of Caroline. Somehow,
he would have to travel 40 miles to
Ashland to see his probation officer,
20 miles to see his substance abuse
counselor, and almost 50 miles to attend
any court-ordered programs like anger
management or batterer’s intervention.
He would be about 30 miles away from
Paid for by the Caroline County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
C M Y K
A7
By Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer,
Commonwealth’s Attorney of Caroline County
the County’s one N.A. meeting a week
and would have to travel hundreds of
miles a week to other localities if he
wanted to attend 90 meetings in 90 days.
All of this without a driver’s license while
at a lower cost than any other organization
involved in the rehabilitation of addicts and
alcoholics.
Caroline County Recovery
Community Center. McShin’s Recovery
he’s supposed to be finding a job. Resource Center in Henrico is too far away to
We would all be shocked to see him succeed. serve Caroline’s residents. For this reason, the
McShin Foundation last month opened the
How We Plan To Address Our Caroline County Recovery Community Center
Problems (CCRCC) in Bowling Green.
Located in a building across from the
Under our plan, we will find defendants
County’s courthouse, the CCRCC offers A.A. and
who are good candidates for recovery and
N.A. meetings every day and every night, as
reintegration into their communities, and we
well as peer relapse prevention groups, recovery
will offer them an alternative to conviction
or jail. By using a carrot-and-stick approach
coaches, job placement services, linkage to
other agencies and services, and housing
with those who accept the offer, we expect to
referrals. These recovery support services are
see about 50% of them succeed. To sustain
available not only to people in the Recovery
and expand our plan will require a small
Community Program, but to other County
fraction of the money we will be saving in the
residents in recovery.
cost of incarceration, pre-trial and probation
Each participant in the Recovery
supervision, and court-ordered treatment.
Community Program will be assigned a
The Assessment and The Offer.
personal Certified Recovery Coach. Participants
Once a defendant is arrested, the prosecutor
in the program will have to attend meetings
and defense attorney will begin compiling
every day for the first 90 days and thereafter as
information about him in anticipation of an
directed by their personal Certified Recovery
assessment conference one to two weeks after
Coach. No methadone or other drugs will be
the arrest. At the assessment conference, the
distributed.
prosecutor and defense attorney will consider
For Recovery Community participants,
whether the defendant is a good candidate for
the CCRCC conducts random alcohol and
an alternative resolution of his charges.
drug testing by urine and saliva screens and
Often, in prosecuting a defendant charged
monitors whether the program’s participants
with domestic assault, we are approached by
are employed or seeking employment, whether
the victim, who tells us that the defendant is a
they are paying restitution or performing
good husband and father when he’s sober and
community service, and whether those with
that she doesn’t want us to send him to jail but
mental health disorders are taking their
just to get him to stop drinking. Or we are told
medications.
by a senior citizen whose shed was burglarized
If a Recovery Community participant misses
by a neighbor that she’s known the defendant
a meeting, tests positive for alcohol or drugs,
since he was a baby and that he was a Boy
or refuses to be tested, he or she will be in
Scout and a good kid before he got hooked on
violation of the contract and will be taken to
drugs. To these defendants, we would consider
and kept at a recovery house until the next day
offering an alternative resolution.
court is in session, when his or her bond will be
Only Caroline County residents will
revoked for some period of time.
be eligible to participate in the program.
The Carrot and The Stick. We know
Defendants charged with sex offenses or violent
that relapse is a part of recovery. The typical
felonies would not be eligible.
addict who achieves long-term recovery will
If a defendant is a good candidate, he will
relapse four or five times in his first two years.
be allowed to volunteer for an opportunity to
The first four or five times a participant
earn the alternative resolution. To accept, he
violates, he will not be removed from the
would sign a contract detailing exactly what
program. Instead, his bond will be revoked
would be expected of him. Most provisions
temporarily, and he will go to jail, for one week
would be the same in all such contracts, but
upon the first violation and for longer periods
certain provisions in each contract would be
upon subsequent violations.
tailored to address the problems of the individual
Any participant who flunks out completely
defendant.
will return to the normal criminal justice
After the defendant enters into the contract,
system, and we will be looking to send him to
his criminal case would be continued for at
prison. Jail and prison are the sticks.
least one year, and he would remain on bond.
The carrot for successful completion of
Under his contract, the defendant would admit
the Recovery Community Program is the
his guilt and waive his speedy trial rights,
dismissal or reduction of the criminal charges,
and he would agree to the revocation of his
along with the opportunity for a better life, in
bond for specified periods of time for certain
recovery, with employment and the respect of
violations of the contract’s terms.
one’s community.
In most instances, the defendant will be
Public Safety and Expected
given the opportunity to stay out of jail and
Outcomes
earn a dismissal or reduction of all charges by
People addicted to alcohol or drugs are our
being in recovery for a year or more, getting
sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters,
a job, performing community service, and
our husbands and wives, our fathers and
paying any restitution he owes.
mothers, our friends and neighbors. They
Because participation in the recovery
come to Bowling Green to shop at the Food
community is central to our plan, we are
Lion, Rite-Aid and Dollar General, to go to the
calling it a Recovery Community Program.
Post Office, to see their doctor or lawyer, to buy
The McShin Foundation. We are very
county decals, to attend church, and to go to
fortunate to be teamed up on this project with
court. Now they can also attend A.A. and N.A.
the McShin Foundation, a national leader in
meetings in Bowling Green.
delivering recovery support services. While
The Caroline County Recovery Community
the average success rate for substance abuse
Center is located across the street from the
services nationally is 7%, McShin has a success
Virginia State Police office and within 100
rate approaching 50%.
yards of the Sheriff’s Office and the Bowling
McShin has been recognized by Republicans
Green Police Department.
and Democrats, in Washington and
In over forty years of A.A. and N.A. meetings
Richmond. Both Congressmen Eric Cantor
in Caroline County, there has never been a
(R-Va) and Bobby Scott (D-Va) support the
public disturbance. Recovery meetings do not
McShin Foundation. Personally, I have been
present a threat to public safety; they enhance
contacted by Bill Howell, Speaker of the House
public safety.
of Delegates, and Chris Peace, a Delegate
We expect that about 50% of the participants
representing Caroline County, encouraging me
will successfully complete their contractual
to bring McShin to our County.
obligations and become law-abiding and
In addition to providing recovery support in
productive members of our communities.
the prisons, McShin has a Recovery Resource
We expect to see a concomitant drop in the
Center in Henrico County. The Center is open
numbers of defendants who are incarcerated,
seven days a week and hosts A.A. and N.A.
placed on probation, and ordered into
meetings every day and every night. At the
substance abuse treatment.
Center, McShin offers peer relapse prevention
We also expect in Caroline County to see a
groups, recovery coaches, and job placement
substantial drop in crime and an increase in the
services. The Center can provide peer and
quality of life.
faith-based contacts, linkage to other agencies
Caroline’s Recovery Community Program
and services, and housing referrals.
is generating interest from Republicans and
At its Recovery Resource Center in Henrico,
Democrats alike. I will be meeting in three
McShin answers over 18,000 calls and hosts
weeks with the Governor’s Office to discuss
over 2,000 peer-based meetings a year. On
our program, which may become a model for
average, over 700 consumers weekly pass
similar programs throughout the State. The
through the Center. McShin also has 34
people of Caroline should be proud of their
recovery beds in five recovery houses, with access
County’s role as a leader in devising solutions
to over 300 more beds in the Richmond area.
that are both effective and cost-effective in
McShin provides the most effective recovery
addressing our public safety problems.
support services in America, and it does so