Litchfield Independent Review - Mandatory AA/NA as a probation condition.....Is it Constitutional? - Comments

The most difficult part of

Git R Dun — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:42:20 -0500

The most difficult part of the AA program for me to stomach is when participants have to "admit" they are powerless over alcohol/drugs. This may be so for some but it is NOT a given that EVERYONE who has the mis-fortune to visit our local courthouse is powerless or addicted. (This particular offense was a first time, 4th degree MISDEMEANOR DUI). Yup, he got caught doing what many of us have done in our youth. Does that make him powerless over alcohol at age 19? I wonder if our 19 year old soldiers fighting overseas believe they are powerless over anything? Alcohol is a liquid. It has no "power". Probation Officers on the other hand have way too much power in our justice system. They could recommend or petition the court to revise any part of the court ordered probation based on the individual's lifestyle changes but won't even consider dropping the mandatory AA. When all other areas of the court order were completed except the AA (MADD panel, fines paid, public defender paid, cost of random UA's paid, probation officer fees paid, out-patient treatment program completed, laws obeyed, etc.)it seems ridiculous to make a person stay on probation just because they do not want to go to AA meetings when they don't share the belief they are "powerless" and prove it daily in the manner in which they live their lives. The probation officer refuses to acknowledge this and just tells him if he ever wants to get off probation he has to go to AA. Why???

The recognition of a higher

Slikweasel — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:44:48 -0500

The recognition of a higher power is in itself religion. Many people believe there is no higher power. They believe we came from a naturally occurring mix of proteins which mixed and started life. From their came evolution and eventually us.

Many of us do not believe what I have written above. That being said, is it right for our courts to order people to admit to the existence of a higher power. Absolutely not.

Yes, AA/NA has been around

mnkitten — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:28:24 -0500

Yes, AA/NA has been around for a long time....and it is often used as a condition of probation. Why? Because it works! Thousands of people have found recovery with the principles that are taught in 12-step groups. Even those who are atheist can apply the 12-steps to their lives when working on recovery from alcohol/drugs. Step 2 says: Came to believe that a power higher than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3 says: Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. The key words here are "as we understood him." There is a big difference between spirituality and religion. I think that as with anything, you need to take what works for you and leave the rest. Now, a little twist to all of this: I have to say that I DO think that people should be court ordered to treatment, or shock probation like MADD panels, but I DO NOT believe that people should be court ordered to attend AA/NA. The reason?? People at AA/NA are there voluntarily, because they want to work the program and obtain or maintain sobriety. People who attend these meetings just because they are court ordered to be there could be detrimental to the others who are there voluntarily and who care about the program and the other people at the meeting.

Moreover, the treatment center being built in Litchfield is a 20-bed, inpatient, adolescent treatment center. Hopefully they will use the principles of the 12-steps in the programming. Why? Because history proves that they work!

Mandatory AA/NA as a probation condition.....Is it Constitutional?

Git R Dun — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:08:40 -0600

First of all, I do NOT condone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, however, I do believe that even those who are convicted of doing so still deserve to be protected under Constitutional l