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--> --> Ashland High peer jury handles first policy case By Damian Mann For the Tidings A new drug and alcohol policy that allows students to act as judge and jury got its first case, with five students weighing the evidence against a sophomore girl who was reportedly drunk during a Sept. 20 football game. The girl was stopped by an Ashland police officer who conducted sobriety tests on her and determined she was under the influence of alcohol on school grounds. The 16-year-old girl, who admitted drinking two shots of vodka at a friend's house, told the jurors that her goal was "To not be so irresponsible. I learned from this experience." The girl, whose name is being withheld because of her age, said, "I would definitely not go to school acting like that again." For her punishment, the defendant was told by the peer jury to have a session with the police department's youth diversion officer, undergo alcohol and drug treatment, write an essay on the Southern Oregon Drug Awareness program and attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Junior Krystl Tonkin, who was both juror and court clerk, just moved to Ashland from Arizona and found the idea a refreshing change from the expelling of students. She thought having a jury of peers "perfectly appropriate. It's a much better alternative." While the trial went smoothly, Jan Janssen, youth diversion officer for the Ashland police, worried about how the high school would view the judgment. "It will be interesting to see what the school thinks about this - whether it is strict enough," Janssen said. While being strict is important, Janssen said the jury's goal goes beyond that. "What can we do to make a difference in a person's life?" she asked. Ashland's policy prohibits student use of drugs or alcohol during any school event. Before the new policy took effect this school year, a school administrator would have decided a student's punishment. Now, students and parents can choose whether to have the case heard before an administrator or the peer jury, which was first used in 1995 to pass sentence on first-time, low-level juvenile offenders. The district changed the drug and alcohol policy after the community complained about students who were allegedly caught smoking marijuana at the time of a speech debate in Oklahoma City last year. Community members thought the policy should reflect a more therapeutic response than punitive. While the students chose some therapeutic remedies in this case, they also tried to show the gravity of the situation. Junior Ashley Graham, who was court clerk, said the girl was not cooperative at the time of her arrest and urged the jurors to compel her to do extracurricular activities at school, get involved in SODA and contribute time to the community. The peer jury, which meets monthly under the supervision of Janssen, also reviewed two other cases Monday. A 13-year-old girl was arrested for criminal mischief after toilet papering a house with friends. They also wrote obscenities on the house. A 13-year-old boy was arrested for stealing 10 cents worth of candy from an Ashland store. Damian Mann is a reporter for the Medford Mail Tribune, and can be reached at 776-4476. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing