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L/RAIN Temp: 61 °F Wind: WSW at 10 mph Friday, May 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend October 8, 2002 Student jury sets drinking penalty Ashland sophomore will go to treatment, write an essay and attend an AA meeting By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune ASHLAND — A new drug and alcohol policy that allows students to act as judge and jury got its first case Monday night. Five students weighed the evidence against a sophomore girl who was drunk during a Sept. 20 football game, where she was stopped by an Ashland police officer who conducted sobriety tests on her. 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 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," said Janssen. 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 usedin 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. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S