Community Court Report

We headed off to the community court at 9 in the morning. Although we have already been there, it was unofficial, and all we did there was sitting on the bench doing nothing. It was our first time officially to tour around the community court and watch the trial. In the morning, it had a drug court session. The judge listened to the situation report from the health care supervisor and the probation officer and congratulated the convicts for their hard work and graduating from one of the drug court programs. I was impressed by the judge because he showed them support sincerely in so many different ways. The drug court’s ambience was also different from the superior court; it was much lighter and supportive. Everyone clapped when the convict returned to his seat after the judge announced the return date to the court. I thought the superior

court’s atmosphere was bright enough – although it was a criminal trial – but the drug court was even brighter, probably because it is not a real trial. The convicts talked casually with the judge and if someone achieved something remarkable, everyone applauded out of encouragement. However, it was not bad at all. I think the drug court broke my prejudice that the court has to be solemn all the time.
The drug court program was created for people to accomplish complete restraints from unlawful and illicit drugs, and from all criminal action. The program is intended to elevate independence and to return individuals to the group as a beneficial and dependable citizen. I think it does a great job in assisting those who need help, as drug court offers residential treatment program. The residential program depends on the person’s ability to survive and keep oneself from getting addicted to drugs again; it has no relevance to the length of the sentence.
While I was having dinner with my friends, they told me they saw a police car and that a senior student in SUA was arrested for carrying marijuana and other drugs such as meth and cocaine. It was surprising to me because I have never seen someone getting arrested for possession of drugs. I was wondering if he would be sent to the drug court since I heard he has been selling drugs for quite a long time, but then realized he is more likely to be sentenced diversion since it is his first time being caught. Drug is not common in Korea, and is heavily punished for smuggling or possession itself. The number of drug abuse cases are less than 10,000 per year, – there are about 50 million people in Korea – and many of them serve in prison for more than a year for just possessing drugs. He would have been sent to prison or paid fines under $8,500 if he was in Korea.
After lunch, we had a chance to talk with the judge.

Then we went to the court again, but this time, it was mental health court. Mental health court functions as a concurrent court – combined form of drug and mental health court – since many people with mental health problems abuse drugs to stop hallucinations. I could tell people who were having mental problems by their hair. Many of their hair were disheveled. Also, they had the empty look on their faces. Furthermore, their reactions were either gloomy or overly excited. Besides, some people were wearing orange uniforms, shackled to the chair. Perhaps they are prospective applicants for the mental health court about to be evaluated. After everyone went through their current situation reports, there was a man who were graduating from the whole mental health program. He received complimentary remarks from everyone and made a speech how he felt grateful towards people who helped him and what he had to go through during the mental health court program. It was touching and I could feel that he had to overcome many obstacles, yet he remained on the way to be defeat his

difficulties.
Watching the drug and mental health court was a great experience for me. I was really surprised to see how supportive the people were, and how they were so willing to offer assistance for those who need one. It broke my s of the court that the court exists to punish people and has to be serious all the time, while it could be so friendly and encouraging. Offering one more chance to function as a fruitful citizen by exterminating the cycle of the bad habits is a great gain to the society and individuals.