         |
 |
Conn. group advocates
for gambling court
(February
2008 Issue)
By Phyllis Hanlon
Marvin Steinberg, Ph.D., executive director of the Connecticut
Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG), has watched compulsive gambling
issues escalate steadily, particularly since the construction of
two casinos in his state. When he heard Judge Mark G. Farrell of
Amherst, N.Y. speak about gambling courts at the National Council
on Problem Gambling's conference, his organization and concerned
members of the community initiated a drive to adopt this strategy.
While problem gambling may drain a bank account or strain a relationship,
related issues arise, including stealing, shoplifting, failure to
pay child support, embezzlement, fraud, domestic violence and property
destruction. "There has been an increase in crimes of people who
rent apartments and rip the fixtures out to sell them," says Steinberg.
While incarceration without intervention may have its benefits,
a prison term may worsen the problem. "There is a high percentage
of the population who have a gambling problem," Steinberg says.
"Prisoners go in, gamble and come out worse than when they went
in."
Judge Farrell's model of monitoring, restitution, individualized
treatment approaches and personal encouragement has proven effective,
notes Steinberg. "It has all the basic ingredients," he says.
According to Steinberg, Judge Farrell's gambling court in New York
- the only one currently in existence - monitors offenders and offers
positive reinforcement during the length of the offender's term.
"The minimum is one year, although some go for three years," Steinberg
says, adding that the recidivism rate is low. "Only one person was
rearrested, but not for a gambling offense," he says.
In spite of these positive results, gambling courts face some stumbling
blocks. "The biggest challenge is having problem gambling recognized
to the degree it needs to be," Steinberg says. "Gambling is the
only activity the state promotes that is dangerous. Two million
dollars are going to the state gambling treatment program, but
they get hundreds of millions in revenue from the casinos. Not a
penny of that goes for rehabilitation. We need a formula to bring
the prevention/rehabilitation aspect to what we should be doing,"
Steinberg says.
Although no hard data on the success of gambling courts exists,
Steinberg suggests the state look at problem solving courts for
domestic violence and drugs. "Studies show they work, so it follows
that gambling courts would work," says Steinberg. "We need to educate
prosecutors, anyone with influence in the court. A judge is the
best one to reach." CCPG has yet to identify a judge willing to
support the idea of gambling courts.
Founder and editor of The Journal of Gambling Studies, Henry R.
Lesieur, Psy.D., Ph.D., NCGC (nationally certified gambling counselor)
of the Rhode Island Gambling Treatment Program in Providence, wrote
"The Chase: Career of the Compulsive Gambler." In the book, he cites
several benefits to gambling courts including a non-adversarial
relationship between the defendant and the court; a continuum of
treatment in some cases; treatment appropriate to individual needs;
continuous judicial interaction with the defendant; monitored goals
and effectiveness of the program; continuing education for court
personnel and a foundation for positive mental health.
Steinberg anticipates at least one year before any progress is
made, depending "on the positive domino effect."
|
 |
