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[ethercat]

Would you trade time in prison for time in Narconon?

http://leaderadvertiser.com/court_records/article_4e3b68b6-b129-11df-aa96-001cc4c002e0.html

Lake County District Court, Judge Christopher presiding

*The following district court proceedings took place Aug. 19.

-State of Montana vs. Martin Sanders; 52. The matter before the Court is sentencing.

PSI has been received and reviewed. For the offense of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony, the Court commits the Defendant to the DOC for a term of 10 years with all that time suspended to run consecutive to Sanders County Case DC-08-9. The Defendant is to receive credit for time served of 49 days and in addition credit for successfully completing the Narconon program for a total credit of 286 days.

Martin Sanders would.  And did.

This court is sufficiently uninformed as to what Narconon is that it would allow Martin Sanders 237 days credit on his sentence just for completing the program.  I've been unable to find out what County Case DC-08-9 involved, as Montana District Courts do not keep their court records online, but I am curious as to the specifics of the case.

Courts and the people who make decisions like these need to be informed as to what exactly Narconon is, what the program entails, and, despite their false claims of a 70% and up success rate, their track record for getting and keeping people off drugs.  Reports from former clients are rife with stories of drug use on Narconon's premises while in the Narconon program. 

Who, in various court systems, is responsible for allowing certain drug rehab programs to count toward "time served"?

[wynot]

I think this sort of thing would be negotiated between the District Attorney and defense counsel, with the ultimate decision rendered by the judge presiding the case. The offices of the DAs would likely be the best places to send information in a 'Friend of the Court' kind of way. I think judges might see meddling, and defense attorneys, well... Let's be charitable, and say that its not their job to keep their clients in jail.

'til later;
wynot

[ethercat]

You're probably right. 

I thought I remembered a similar article, so went looking and found this regarding Daniel Wilson Nania: Spokane man sentenced to 7 years for robberies at Walgreen's in Missoula

I've updated it with a little more info.  That one took place in Montana also.  Obviously, Montana needs some info.