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Police offer new drug, alcohol punishments

by Merrick Meyers

Grinnell police, the local prosecutor's office and college officials are in the process of developing a program that would provide alternative sentencing for minor alcohol-related offenses.

Instead of going through the regular justice system and getting a criminal record, Powesheik County residents charged with these offenses will instead have to successfully complete an educational course and the offense will not go on their criminal records.

"We think it's gonna happen for sure," said Tom Crady, vice president for Student Services.

The plan would take the form of an arrangement with the prosecutor's office under which a judge could withhold additional punishment if the perpetrator is referred to the program.

The program would cover alcohol offenses including transporting open containers of alcohol, underage drinking and public intoxication. More serious crimes such as DUI would not be covered and would be sentenced in the normal way.

Crady estimated that 15 to 20 Grinnell students are charged with alcohol related crimes each year. Many occur at the border of campus and involve transportation of open containers.

Similar programs have been attempted with success in other areas. "This isn't new to the criminal justice system," said Grinnell Chief of Police Jody Matherly, "but it's new to Powesheik County."

Matherly said that this is part of an effort by the police to work with the student body to resolve problems instead of being perceived as antagonists.

This arrangement would cover all residents of Powesheik County, not just Grinnell College students. High school students from the town of Grinnell are also expected to be included in the program.

"I think the new policy is a good step ... as a potentially more effective method of preventing unsafe alcohol use, which is the purpose of the law in the first place," said Conor McGee '08.

The program will likely be in place by the fall 2006.

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