2008 Annual Report - Superior Court of California - County of Los ...

The Drug Store
Program
Over three hot October days, the Court participated in a
program called “The Drug Store,” a realistic experience
for middle school students who witness one of their
group arrested on drug charges.
In short order, the students discover the incident is roleplaying
— with real police officers, judges and a “defendant”
played by one of their classmates.
With temperatures nearing 100 degrees and ash raining
down from the dozen wildfires raging in Southern
California, judicial officers held court in the City of
Commerce for two sessions per day.
Although the Drug Store program has been in existence
since 1989, last year marked the first time the Court
participated in an official capacity. The program is a
unique drug awareness program sponsored by the
California Department of Justice
The Drug Store was a collaborative effort involving the
City of Commerce, Montebello School District, the Los
Angeles County Sheriff ’s
Department, the Los Angeles
County Probation
Department, Bell Gardens
Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the Office
of the Public Defender.
Prior to the presentation, sixth-grade teachers solicited the
participation of a child in their class, along with his or her
parents, to play the role of the drug offender in each installment.
Several scenes played out. The first depicted the simulated theft
of drugs from a Sheriff ’s Department display.
In the remaining scenes, the child would be arrested,
prosecuted, placed on probation, overdose from drug use and die.
Over the course of
three days, more
than 1,200 sixth-
14 Delivering Justice to a Changing Community