Change aims to improve court function

Malia Spencer

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

Two judges have been appointed liaisons to the Las Vegas Municipal Court's Drug and Domestic Violence courts on Monday in an effort to improve the services and efficiency of the programs.

Municipal Judges Betsy Kolkoski and Cedric Kerns will oversee the Drug Court and Domestic Violence Court respectively.

"They will keep their hands on the pulse of the programs," Las Vegas Municipal Court Chief Judge Toy Gregory said. The new setup is more effective than a committee of all six judges, he said.

The Las Vegas Municipal Court has had these programs in effect since the 1970s, Gregory said. They consist of counseling and classes for offenders.

As liaisons, Kolkoski and Kerns will act as administrators of the programs and help other judges execute the programs and keep the court consistent.

Kerns said he had one of the most progressive domestic violence courts in the municipal system, which may have led to his appointment. He helped establish an intense probation program that better accounts for defendants if they miss a counseling session or commit a new offense, he said.

"We are able to catch them immediately after they violate," he said.

Kerns is credited with starting this probation program, said Sandra Scott manager of the Alternative Sentencing and Education Division.

"Judge Kerns has been a leader in domestic violence cases," she said.

Kerns also hopes to soon implement a program using federal grant money to expand presentencing investigations. These investigations allow the court to better establish what the root of the domestic violence is, he said. This in turn will enable the court to determine proper treatment and sentence.

His expertise in the area of domestic violence will be able to help other judges, he said.

The domestic violence program currently has 1,306 open cases, Scott said, along with 110 offenders in the intense probation program.

Kolkoski, a Municipal Court judge for three years, described her new role as a team leader.

She plans to expand the Drug Court's presentencing investigation so judges can offer an appropriate sentence. She also hopes to expand the court's ability to perform random drug tests by making Breathalyzers available in the courtroom. She said currently if judges suspect someone is under the influence, the person must be sent to another location to perform a test.

"If it turns out to be problematic, it heightens our response," she said.

Kolkoski's background is with elder abuse and elder rights. She said that sparked her interest in the role drugs and alcohol play in those crimes. She added that she sees the Drug Court as a tool for intervention.

Scott echoed that sentiment and said alternative sentences at the municipal level can often deter problems so offenders don't reach the felony level.