May 1965

COURT CLASS by Eugene K. Magnum Clrici Blagisrrare. Phoenix C i t y Court Plroenix, Arizona

attendance will average from sixty be released for the Court members. The judge will select from H E courts have long felt them- T selves powerless to do anything for the alcoholic. It is most frustratto eighty. Approximately fifteen will be AA members. The rest will Class. 3. Casual drop-ins. A number are there by invitation the group of drunks four or five likely prospects, who will be given I ing to find the same men appearing be those we are trying to help, or suspended sentences and asked to of a fellow drunk. talk with the AA men whep re- I in court week after week – in many members of their families (many cases extending into years. Jail terms men bring their wives). Those at- Our program is basically an AA leased. The AA program is exwill not cure. About the only thing tending for the first time come from meeting. A judge gives a few intro- plained in detail and the drunks are which can be said for jail is that it the following sources: ductory remarks and turns the meet- given an opportunity to join AA. I keeps the alcoholic out of the way 1. Delayed sentencing. I n ing over to the chairman, who states am most impressed with the effecmany cases we use this the purpose of the meeting, gives his tiveness of this program, even for a while and the jail food builds him up so that he can live through procedure, and we find it own drinking history and tells how, though it does not equal the Court effective. At the time of through AA, he found sobriety. A Class in its total effect. his extended drinking periods. co-chairman is introduced, who also Realizing the futility of jail term sentencing, the court will I must pay tribute to the dedicatake Court Class attend- gives his history. Then members of tion and service of the AA memafter jail term, a number of courts ance into consideration. AA are called upon to speak. All bers, both men and women. Our around the country are trying to do We use this mostly in talks are almost identical to the ones Court Class consists of both men something for the alcoholic. Probdrunk-driving and minor- given at an AA meeting. The meet- and women drunks, so we rely heavably the most successful program in ing is ended by the judge and then ily on AA women to help us out. the country is the Honor Court Class illegally-consuming liquor cases. we serve coffee and rolls. While cof- There is a great deal of satisfacconducted by the Honorable Ray fee is served, the AA members cir- tion to be obtained from working Harrison, Judge of the Municipal 2. Direct from jail. O n Wednesday morning we culate among the drunks and en- with the program I have outlined. Court of Des Moines, Iowa. From sentence our drunks to one courage them to affiliate with AA It is not burdensome in any degree. his court the idea has spread until and try the program. there are at least thirty-five classes day in jail, with the provi- The thrill that comes from seeing now in operation, and every day sion that they are to be re- We also have another program the changes in the lives of these more courts are making inquiry leased for Court Class that which has proved effective. We hold people as they fight to achieve sonight. For three or four our first court session at 7:00 A.M., briety, and to see serenity and peace about the program. Each Wednesday night the Phoe- days prior, we will sen- 365 days of the year, in order to replace fear and hatred cannot be nix Court Class on Alcoholism tence a few to four, three empty our drunk tank. Every ses- equaled. I commend this program meets in the City Court room. The or two days, so they can sion is attended by two- to five AA to any judge.