9/03/01

LC010903

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LAW ENFORCEMENT: HOW TO KEEP TRACK OF CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED ON PAROLE.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> THEY ARE SEXUAL SADISTS, RAPISTS AND CHILD MOLESTERS THE STATE CALLS SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS.

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> I'M A RAPIST.

SAUL>> HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE YOU RAPED?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> BETWEEN EIGHT AND TEN.

SAUL>> WHO WERE THEY?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> STRANGERS.

VAL>> THE LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS NEARLY OVER, BUT MAYBE NOT SOON ENOUGH FOR SOME MOTORISTS. TONIGHT JUDGE KEVIN ROSS LOOKS AT A REAL ROAD HAZARD, DUIS, DRIVERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE. WHAT RIGHTS DO YOU HAVE IF YOU'RE STOPPED AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE GUILTY?

JESS>> THEY SEARCHED AMERICA FOR THE BEST SCHOOL ANYWHERE AND THEY FOUND IT IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. TONIGHT WE'LL VISIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL THAT'S SERVING AS A ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE NATION AND WE'LL MEET SOME YOUNGSTERS WHO CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO CLASS.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS POSE A SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO SOCIETY. IN MANY CASES, THEY REPEAT THEIR CRIMES EVEN AFTER THEY'VE BEEN SENT TO JAIL OR TO A STATE HOSPITAL.

VAL>> WELL, NOW CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, A SATELLITE TRACKING SYSTEM. AN ORBITING SATELLITE WILL KEEP TABS ON CERTAIN SEX PREDATORS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTODY. ONE OF THEM IS PATRICK GHILOTTI, A MAN WE FIRST MET TWO YEARS AGO. TONIGHT SAUL GONZALEZ TAKES US BACK TO THE HOSPITAL THAT HOUSES CALIFORNIA'S MOST DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDERS.

SAUL>> HERE AT ATASCADERO STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL, THERE ARE MEN WHO COME STRAIGHT OUT OF SOME PEOPLE'S NIGHTMARES, MEN LIKE PATRICK GHILOTTI.

SAUL>> WHY ARE YOU HERE, PATRICK?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> I'M A RAPIST.

SAUL>> HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE YOU RAPED?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> BETWEEN EIGHT AND TEN.

SAUL>> WHO WERE THEY?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> STRANGERS.

SAUL>> HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> WELL, IT MADE ME FEEL MORE POWERFUL AND IN CONTROL AT THE TIME. IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD, BETTER, TO BE ABLE TO OVERPOWER SOMEBODY AND CONTROL SOMEBODY.

SAUL>> AND SEE THEM AFRAID?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> AND SEE THEM AFRAID. SEE THE FEAR.

SAUL>> GHILOTTI IS ONE OF NEARLY 300 REPEAT SEX OFFENDERS COMMITTED TO ATASCADERO HOSPITAL. THEY ARE SEXUAL SADISTS, RAPISTS AND CHILD MOLESTERS THE STATE CALLS SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS.

CRAIG NELSON>> THE PREDATOR IS REALLY SOMEONE WHO IS OUT SEEKING PREY. THEY ARE OUT ACTIVELY TRYING TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL VICTIMS.

SAUL>> CRAIG NELSON IS IN CHARGE OF THE ATASCADERO SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR PROGRAM.

CRAIG NELSON>> IT'S USUALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS A PREFERENCE OR AT LEAST AN EXTREME INTEREST IN SEXUALLY VIOLENT ACTS, USUALLY MOLEST OR RAPE AGAINST WOMEN. TYPICALLY THESE PEOPLE OFFEND AGAINST STRANGERS OR THEY ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF VICTIMIZATION.

SAUL>> MANY OF THE SEXUAL PREDATORS HERE ONCE LED SEEMINGLY NORMAL LIVES.

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> I WAS MARRIED. I HAD A BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER AND ANYBODY LOOKING INTO MY LIFE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN EXCEPT WHEN I WENT OUT ON MY WALKING SPREES THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG IN MY LIFE.

SAUL>> YOUR WALKING SPREES?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> YEAH.

SAUL>> THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD GO OUT AND LOOK FOR VICTIMS?

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> LATER ON IT BECAME WALKING AND LOOKING FOR VICTIMS, YEAH.

SAUL>> MEN LIKE GHILOTTI ARE AT THIS MENTAL INSTITUTION BECAUSE OF A LAW PASSED BY STATE LEGISLATORS IN 1995. RATHER THAN SET FREE RAPISTS AND MOLESTERS AFTER THEY'VE SERVED THEIR PRISON SENTENCES, THE LAW ALLOWS MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO CONFINE SEX OFFENDERS TO AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT EXTENDABLE, POTENTIALLY, TO A LIFETIME IF A JUDGE OR JURY SO DECIDES. IT'S A PROCESS CALLED INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT.

SAUL>> THE SEXUAL PREDATORS HERE AT ATASCADERO HOSPITAL ARE DIAGNOSED WITH PARAPHILIA, DEFINED AS EXTREME AND CHRONIC SEXUAL DEVIANCE. WHILE HERE, THE SEXUAL PREDATOR POPULATION LIVES TOGETHER IN SEPARATE HOUSING UNITS. THEIR ROOMS ARE SPARTAN, BUT PATIENTS ARE ALLOWED TO DECORATE THEM AS THEY WISH. PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FOR COOPERATIVE INDIVIDUALS CONSISTS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION THERAPY CALLED RELAPSE PREVENTION.

CRAIG NELSON>> THE PURPOSE OF THE TREATMENT IS REALLY TO HELP THE OFFENDER LEARN WAYS AND DEVELOP SKILLS TO MANAGE HIS DEVIANT URGES AND TO BECOME MOTIVATED TO MANAGE HIS DEVIANT URGES IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE CAN BE RELEASED TO OUTPATIENT SUPERVISION AND MONITORING IN THE COMMUNITY.

SAUL>> LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS NOT PERMITTED TO FILM ANY PART OF ATASCADERO HOSPITAL'S TREATMENT REGIMEN. IT IS SIMILAR, HOWEVER, TO THIS PROGRAM FOR REPEAT SEX OFFENDERS IN VERMONT.

HERE, MEN ARE TAUGHT TO STOP RATIONALIZING THEIR SEXUAL DEVIANCE AND FIND EMPATHY FOR THEIR VICTIMS. IN THIS SESSION, IT'S DONE BY HAVING THE MEN LISTEN TO A 911 CALL FROM A RAPE VICTIM.

(FILM CLIP)

SAUL>> AS CALIFORNIA ATTEMPTS TO TREAT ITS REPEAT SEX OFFENDERS AT THE ATASCADERO HOSPITAL, THOUGH, CRITICS OF THE PROGRAM ASK A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: DO THE MEN LOCKED UP AS SEXUAL PREDATORS HERE REALLY HAVE LEGITIMATE MENTAL PROBLEMS?

SO WHEN IT COMES TO A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT PERSON? OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOMETHING --

DR. THEODORE DONALDSON>> -- THEY'RE A CRIMINAL. YOU COULD ASK ME THE SAME THING ABOUT A MURDERER, A BANK ROBBER OR DRUG DEALER. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?" THEY WANT SOMETHING THEY CAN'T GET LEGALLY.

PATRICK GHILOTTI>> I UNDERSTAND WHY I DID WHAT I DID. THERE WAS NO MENTAL ILLNESS INVOLVED, THERE WAS NO UNCONTROLLABLE IMPULSES, THERE WAS NO MAGIC THING HAPPENING. IT WAS MY CHOICE TO GO OUT AND DO WHAT I DID.

SAUL>> OF COURSE, THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE ATASCADERO HOSPITAL RESTS ON THIS QUESTION: CAN SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS BE RETURNED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD WITHOUT FEAR OF THEM STRIKING AGAIN? EVEN THE DOCTORS WHO WORK WITH THIS POPULATION OF MEN SAY THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FOOLPROOF CURE.

CRAIG NELSON>> NO ONE IS GOING TO WALK OUT OF THE DOORS OF THIS TREATMENT PROGRAM, OR ANY TREATMENT PROGRAM REALLY, WHO'S A SEX OFFENDER AND NOT GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH EVER HAVING ANOTHER DEVIANT SEXUAL URGE OR FANTASY OR DESIRE AGAIN. BUT, INSTEAD, TREATMENT REALLY IS ABOUT HELPING OFFENDERS LEARN WAYS TO COPE WITH THOSE DEVIANT URGES AND FANTASIES MORE EFFECTIVELY.

JESS>> SAUL GONZALEZ JOINS US NOW. THERE IS NO CURE, THEN, THEY'RE SUGGESTING? AND THERE'S EVEN A QUESTION WHETHER IT'S A MENTAL DISORDER, BUT THEY'RE BEING TREATED IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.

SAUL>> WELL, YEAH, RETURNING TO YOUR FIRST POINT, THERE IS NO CURE AND EVEN THE EXPERTS, THE PSYCHOLOGISTS, WILL SAY THAT. THESE MEN WILL ALWAYS HAVE THESE KIND OF FANTASIES. THE CHALLENGE IS, HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO KEEP THOSE FANTASIES LOCKED UP IN THEIR HEADS --

JESS>> -- KEEP THEM FROM ACTING ON THEM.

SAUL>> -- INSTEAD OF ACTING THEM OUT. GHILOTTI, WHEN HE GETS OUT, WILL STILL HAVE THESE THOUGHTS RUNNING AROUND IN HIS HEAD, BUT HAS HE LEARNED ENOUGH DURING HIS TWO YEARS AT ATASCADERO TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE KEEPS THEM IN HIS HEAD AND DOESN'T GO OUT ON WHAT HE SAID THERE, HIS WALKING SPREES, WHEN HE WAS HUNTING FOR VICTIMS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO?

VAL>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW HE'S GOING TO BE MONITORED, THIS SATELLITE METHOD?

SAUL>> WELL, I THINK IT'S LIKE $170,000 TO MONITOR, THE COST --

JESS>> -- $170,000 A YEAR TO MONITOR ONE --

SAUL>> -- TO MONITOR ONE PERSON. OF COURSE, THE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION IS, WELL, --

VAL>> -- IS IT WORTH IT?

SAUL>> IS IT WORTH IT? HE WILL BE PROBABLY THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED FREE MAN IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA, IF NOT THE COUNTRY. HE'S REQUIRED TO TAKE A URINE TEST EVERY WEEK, HE'S REQUIRED TO GO TO COUNSELING, HE'S REQUIRED TO TAKE A DRUG THAT LOWERS HIS HORMONAL LEVELS TO THAT OF A CHILD AND HE'S REQUIRED -- AND THIS IS WHERE THE SCIENCE FICTION COMPONENT OF IT COMES IN -- REQUIRED TO WEAR A CUFF AROUND HIS ANKLE WHICH WILL TRACK HIM BY THE GPS SYSTEM SO AUTHORITIES WILL KNOW WHERE HE IS --

VAL>> -- WHICH IS THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SATELLITE?

SAUL>> YES, EXACTLY -- WHERE HE IS ALL THE TIME.

JESS>> SO THE $170,000 IS ACTUALLY SPENT TO PROTECT POTENTIAL VICTIMS.

SAUL>> SOCIETY, SOCIETY. AND HE'LL BE LIVING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA, PROBABLY THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO OR MARIN COUNTY. HE HAS ASKED, HE HAS ASKED TO RENT FACILITIES AT SAN QUENTIN. HE SAYS HE'S NOT SURE OF HOW WELL HE'D BE ABLE TO ADAPT LIVING IN THE CITY. HE WANTS TO BE AWAY FROM PEOPLE, LIVING APART AT EITHER SAN QUENTIN OR COUNTY FACILITIES.

VAL>> BUT THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN KEEP HIM LEGALLY IN PRISON OR IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL AT THIS POINT?

SAUL>> NO. THE JUDGES SAID HE'S BEEN TO PRISON -- AGAIN, THIS IS A MAN, AND THIS IS WHERE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS GET IN, ALL OF THESE MEN AT ATASCADERO HAVE BEEN TRIED, CONVICTED AND THEY'VE SERVED THEIR TIME. IT WAS ONLY AFTER THAT THAT THEY WERE SENT TO ATASCADERO. AND CRITICS OF THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TURNING A MENTAL HEALTHCARE FACILITY INTO ANOTHER KIND OF JAIL AND IT'S NOT RIGHT. WE MAY NOT LIKE THESE MEN, BUT IS IT APPROPRIATE TO SEND THEM TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES?

JESS>> BUT THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AMONG SEXUAL PREDATORS IS ENORMOUS, IS IT NOT?

SAUL>> YES, IT IS, PARTICULARLY AMONG THESE MEN. THESE ARE THE HARDEST OF THE HARD AND THESE ARE THE WORST OF THE WORST, SO TO SPEAK, WHO'VE RAPED OR CHILD-MOLESTED MULTIPLE TIMES LIKE GHILOTTI.

VAL>> WELL, HEAVEN FORBID, HE DO IT AGAIN. BUT HE IS GOING TO BE WATCHED INTENSELY, SO THERE IS SOME ASSURANCE IN THAT. SAUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE.

SAUL>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, SHOULD AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNCILPERSON REPRESENT A LARGELY LATINO DISTRICT? THAT'S THE LATEST HOT ISSUE AT L.A. CITY HALL.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE BEFORE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DRAW THEIR MAPS THAT MAKE SENSE TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, NOT ONLY TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT ALL THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES? HOW ARE THESE MAPS GOING TO BE DRAWN? ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE SENSE? DO THEY REALLY PROTECT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST? I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY COME UP WITH.

VAL>> THAT'S TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> WE'RE NOW IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THE LONG LABOR DAY WEEKEND, BUT FOR SOME MOTORISTS, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MUCH OF A HOLIDAY. AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PEOPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, AND EVEN A FEW SOCIAL DRINKS ARE ENOUGH TO GET DRIVERS INTO BIG TROUBLE. WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS IF YOU GET STOPPED AND HOW BAD IS THE PUNISHMENT IF YOU'RE FOUND GUILTY?

VAL>> WELL, L.A. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, KEVIN ROSS, IS OUR LEGAL EXPERT AND HE'S HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THOSE THREE DREADED LETTERS, D-U-I. WELCOME, JUDGE ROSS, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

KEVIN ROSS>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

JESS>> JUDGE ROSS, WE'VE MENTIONED WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU GET STOPPED. WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS? WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL PROCESS, THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS THERE'S ALWAYS AN ARREST AND THAT ARREST COULD COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF EITHER A SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT OR SOME SORT OF VEHICLE VIOLATION OR SOME SORT OF MOVING VIOLATION. NOW VEHICLE AND MOVING VIOLATIONS ARE DIFFERENT. VEHICLES VIOLATIONS ARE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE REGISTRATION AND THE POLICE HAPPENED TO PULL YOU OVER AND THEY SMELL ALCOHOL, OR YOUR FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED OR THERE WAS TINTED WINDOWS.

SO THEY CAN PULL YOU OVER AND, IF THEY STOP THE CAR AND THEY SEE BEER BOTTLES OR THEY SMELL MARIJUANA, THAT MAY GIVE THEM CAUSE TO BELIEVE "LET'S INVESTIGATE THIS" EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SPEEDING OR MAYBE THEY WEREN'T CHANGING LANES OR DRIVING TOO SLOW. SO ALL THOSE DIFFERENT VARIABLES COULD RESULT IN AN INITIAL ARREST.

VAL>> I SEE. NOW ONCE YOU ARE STOPPED, CAN YOU REFUSE TO TAKE THE SOBRIETY TEST?

KEVIN ROSS>> THE LAW MANDATES THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT TO THE BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST --

VAL>> -- THE BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST.

KEVIN ROSS>> -- WHICH IS EITHER BLOOD, BREATH OR URINE.

VAL>> OKAY.

KEVIN ROSS>> IF THE POLICE MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT THEY FEEL THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO INITIALLY ARREST YOU, YOU MUST SUBMIT TO ONE OF THOSE THREE OPTIONS. NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF INDIVIDUALS STILL CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES AND THAT RELATES TO THE ACTUAL SENTENCING WITH REGARD TO HOW THE PERSON WOULD BE PUNISHED. THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT MORE FINES --

VAL>> -- WELL, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. THE CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN FOLLOW A DUI ARREST ARE THESE. THEY INCLUDE PROBATION OR JAIL, A HEFTY FINE, AS YOU MENTIONED, SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT A DRIVER USE AN INTERLOCK IGNITION DEVICE. NOW, JUDGE ROSS, WHAT IS AN INTERLOCK IGNITION DEVICE?

KEVIN ROSS>> IT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT THEY HAVE OUT RIGHT NOW. IF YOU EVER SEE SOMEONE -- IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU SEE SOMEONE WITH SOME DEVICE ON THEIR WINDSHIELD AND THEY'RE BLOWING INTO IT, YOU WANT TO MOVE AS FAR AWAY FROM THAT VEHICLE AS POSSIBLE. (LAUGHTER) THAT'S WHAT IS CALLED THE INTERLOCK IGNITION DEVICE. WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO IS CHECK THE BLOOD ALCOHOL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DRIVING. SO IT STILL ALLOWS THE PERSONS WHO HAVE THE CONVICTION TO DRIVE, BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, THEY HAVE TO BLOW INTO THIS DEVICE AND IT MEASURES --

VAL>> -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU BLOW INTO IT BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN PUT THE KEY IN?

KEVIN ROSS>> NO, WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING.

VAL>> WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, BECAUSE OTHERWISE HOW WOULD THEY KNOW IF THE PERSON IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL? IF THE DEVICE MEASURES ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL --

JESS>> -- ANY AMOUNT?

KEVIN ROSS>> ANY AMOUNT THAT WOULD REGISTER, THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. AND IF YOU DON'T BLOW INTO IT WITHIN THE REQUISITE PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF.

VAL>> INTERESTING.

JESS>> CAN WE GO BACK TO THE THINGS YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO, LIKE REFUSING TO TAKE THE TEST? I WOULD ASSUME THE ARGUMENT AGAINST REQUIRING PEOPLE TO EITHER SUBMIT TO BLOOD TESTS OR URINE OR BREATH ANALYSES IS THE NOTION THAT YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMEBODY TO TESTIFY AGAINST THEMSELVES. IS THAT THE RATIONALE THERE?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN MADE THAT THAT WOULD BE A RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION, BUT THE COURTS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HELD THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT FALLS UNDER SELF-INCRIMINATION. PEOPLE WILL TRY TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, BUT, AGAIN, IF THEY CHOOSE TO --

JESS>> -- NOT IN YOUR COURT.

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, NOT IN MY COURT AND, MOST OF ALL, THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, FROM A STANDPOINT OF PLEA BARGAINING, YOU KNOW, A DEFENSE ATTORNEY MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE RESULTS. THE DOWN SIDE OF THAT IS IF THE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS AN INJURY OR IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SO BLATANT THAT THE PERSON WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, THAT COULD MEAN INSTEAD OF A THREE-MONTH ALCOHOL PROGRAM, THEY HAVE TO DO A SIX-MONTH ALCOHOL PROGRAM. MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING MORE JAIL TIME. MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING AT PAYING FINES UP TO $1,000 OR MORE. MAYBE IT INCLUDES ACTUALLY SUSPENDING THEIR LICENSE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.

JESS>> WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE A SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT UP AHEAD?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE GOT A REASON TO BE --

VAL>> -- (LAUGHTER) MAKE THE FIRST RIGHT-HAND TURN YOU CAN.

KEVIN ROSS>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, TO BE HONEST, THOUGH, MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT BEING STOPPED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, IT'S NOT FOR SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS. IT'S USUALLY JUST THE POLICE ARE MAKING OBSERVATIONS AND THEY PULL THE PERSON OVER. YOU KNOW, THEY GO THROUGH THESE SERIES OF TESTS --

VAL>> -- YEAH, LIKE THIS ONE. TOUCHING THE NOSE AND ALL THAT.

KEVIN ROSS>> TOUCHING THE NOSE, THEY'LL HAVE YOU COUNT BACKWARDS FROM A HUNDRED, THEY'LL HAVE YOU DO THE ALPHABET --

VAL>> -- JESS CAN DO THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS --

KEVIN ROSS>> -- I SAW JESS DO THAT.

VAL>> -- IN ABOUT TWENTY SECONDS.

KEVIN ROSS>> I SAW THAT.

JESS>> PRACTICE, PRACTICE (LAUGHTER)

KEVIN ROSS>> (LAUGHTER) BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS, WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PUT IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO ACTUALLY GO TO COURT, IT IS VERY TRAUMATIC. AND THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS SO APPROPRIATE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS TODAY BECAUSE, ESPECIALLY ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT BEING IN CUSTODY FOR TWO OR THREE MORE DAYS BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE CLOSED. YOU KNOW, THE COURTS WERE CLOSED TODAY. SO IF BAIL WAS SET, YOU AREN'T ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE, THAT MEANS YOU'RE IN CUSTODY ALL THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

VAL>> BUT YOU DARE NOT GO WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, IT DEPENDS. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, SO OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT THEY WOULD BE LOOKING TO ASSIST THEM. BUT BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SO SEVERE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF A NINETY-DAY RESTRICTION OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR THE FIRST TYPE OF OFFENSE.

VAL>> MINIMUM.

JESS>> THE EASIEST WAY IN THE WORLD TO AVOID IT --

KEVIN ROSS>> -- SIMPLY TURN THOSE KEYS OVER, HAVE THAT PARTY AT HOME AND DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. BUT WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GET BEHIND THAT WHEEL, IT REALLY IS BASED ON -- IT'S NOT THE CONCEPT SO MUCH OF DRUNK DRIVING AS MUCH AS IT IS DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED. SO FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, VAL, BECAUSE OF YOUR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AND YOUR SEX, THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL YOU CAN CONSUME MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM JESS OR MYSELF. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE EATEN AND OTHER FACTORS. BUT ALL THAT GOES INTO PLAY.

VAL>> ANY RULE OF THUMB PEOPLE SHOULD FOLLOW?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, FOR THE MOST PART, AGAIN, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL. IF YOU FEEL AS THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A FEW DRINKS, IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO THE TIME I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING -- NOW, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU STARTED HAVING COCKTAILS AT MAYBE TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND YOU'RE NOT DRIVING UNTIL TEN, THEN THERE'S A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME WHERE MAYBE FOOD HAS ABSORBED THE ALCOHOL. BUT IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THEM DOWN AND THEN YOU DECIDE TO JUMP INTO THAT CAR, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING --

VAL>> -- NOT SMART.

KEVIN ROSS>> BECAUSE EVEN FOR FIRST-TIME OFFENSES, IF YOU HIT SOMEONE, THAT'S A FELONY AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT GOING TO STATE PRISON.

VAL>> WOW.

JESS>> IT'S A GREAT HOLIDAY. IT'D BE A SHAME TO RUIN IT THAT WAY.

KEVIN ROSS>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. 

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OUR DRUNK DRIVING LAWS? TOO STIFF? TOO EASY? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

VAL>> WELL, FORGET EVERYTHING YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOT WORKING. AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES IS SHOWING THE REST OF THE NATION HOW IT'S DONE.

JESS>> NEARLY EVERY BIG CITY IN THE NATION IS WRESTLING WITH HOW TO FIX PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT THIS CHARTER SCHOOL IS QUIETLY SPREADING THE MESSAGE THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN SUCCEED. LEAH SANDERS VISITED THE CAMPUS IN MAY WHEN TIME MAGAZINE NAMED IT "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR".

LEAH>> ANTHONY YOUNG LOVES POETRY. JUST GIVE HIM A WORD AND, WITHIN SECONDS, HE'LL RECITE A HEARTFELT POEM MADE UP ON THE SPOT.

HOW ABOUT THE WORD "MUSIC"?

ANTHONY YOUNG>> MUSIC. MUSIC IS THE BEST. MUSIC IS A TEST.

LEAH>> ANTHONY ATTENDS THE ACCELERATED SCHOOL IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. HE LOVES POETRY SO MUCH HE AND ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OF HIS FELLOW SECOND GRADE CLASSMATES TAKE PART IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL POETRY CLUB.

ANTHONY YOUNG>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY FRIDAY.

LEAH>> THERE ARE SEVEN- AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS WHO MEET ONCE A WEEK AFTER SCHOOL, ALL ON THEIR OWN WITH NO PRODDING FROM GROWNUPS. BUT SPEND ANY LENGTH OF TIME AT THIS CHARTER SCHOOL AND YOU'LL REALIZE THE POETRY CLUB FOR KIDS THIS AGE IS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THAT'S BECAUSE THESE STUDENTS LEARN BY DOING, NOT JUST READING OR LISTENING.

KEVIN SVED>> IN ORDER TO CHALLENGE KIDS, YOU NEED TO MAKE LEARNING FUN AND ENGAGING, SO OUR TEACHERS ARE REALLY GOOD AT GETTING THE KIDS INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF STUDIES THAT EXCITE THEM.

LEAH>> THAT'S KEVIN SVED. HE AND FELLOW TEACHER, JONATHAN WILLIAMS, HAD A DREAM IN THE EARLY 90'S TO OPEN A SCHOOL WITH RIGOROUS COURSEWORK THAT INCLUDED THE ARTS, AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TEACHERS COULD WORK FREE OF BUREAUCRACY AND A PLACE WHERE PARENTS WOULD BE AS MUCH A PART OF THE LANDSCAPE AS THE STUDENTS.

WELL, THAT DREAM BECAME A REALITY IN 1994 WHEN THEY GOT THE GO-AHEAD FROM L.A. UNIFIED AND FINANCIAL HELP FROM WELLS FARGO BANK TO OPEN THE ACCELERATED SCHOOL IN SOUTH CENTRAL L.A. THE FIRST SITE? A CHURCH WITH FIFTY STUDENTS. THREE YEARS LATER, IT'S GROWN TO 270 STUDENTS AND THE TEACHING METHOD HERE HAS BECOME SO POPULAR THE SCHOOL NEEDS A LARGER CAMPUS.

THIS FACILITY USED TO HOUSE THE OPERATIONS FOR FASHION DESIGNER, CAROL LITTLE. IN 1997, SHE DONATED IT TO THE ACCELERATED SCHOOL SO THEY COULD OPEN UP AT A LARGER SITE. RIGHT NOW IT'S UNDERGOING ANOTHER TRANSFORMATION SO THAT, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER 600 STUDENTS. THE EFFORT BY SVED, WILLIAMS, ELEVEN TEACHERS, NOT TO MENTION HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS HAS KEPT THIS SCHOOL OPERATING AND THE HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF. JUST THIS MONTH, TIME MAGAZINE NAMED IT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR.

JONATHAN WILLIAMS>> WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED BY TIME MAGAZINE THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE A VISIT AND, AS SOON AS WE HEARD ABOUT THAT, WE BEGAN ASKING, YOU KNOW, FRIENDS THAT WE KNEW AROUND THE STATE AND THE NATION AND SEVERAL OF THEM DID SAY THAT TIME HAD CONTACTED THEM AND THAT THEY PROVIDED THEM A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT AND WE WERE ONE SUCH SCHOOL.

LEAH>> IT'S A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A SCHOOL THAT SOME MIGHT SAY HAS THE ODDS STACKED AGAINST IT. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT'S LOCATED. THE CAMPUS IS BEHIND THE WALLS OF THIS FORTRESS-LOOKING FACILITY ON EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD AND MAIN, SURROUNDED BY A COMMUNITY PLAGUED BY ALL THE FAMILIAR PROBLEMS OF A BIG CITY.

BUT STEP INSIDE AND IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD. CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE SOMETIMES HARSH NATURE OF INNER CITY LIFE FOR THE NURTURING SURROUNDINGS OF A SCHOOL THAT WORKS. DESPITE THE OCCASIONAL INTERRUPTION FROM OVERHEAD POLICE HELICOPTERS, KINDERGARTNERS LIKE JANINE WILLIAMS ARE BECOMING ACCOMPLISHED READERS AND WRITERS.

JANINE WILLIAMS>> I GO TO SCHOOL AND I GO SHOPPING WITH MY MOM. I GO TO BASEBALL WITH MY DAD.

LEAH>> THEN THERE'S EDUARDO ROMERO WHO LOVES SCIENCE. HE WANTS TO BE AN INVENTOR WHEN HE GROWS UP. EDUARDO SAYS MAKING ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN ONE OF HIS FAVORITE ASSIGNMENTS.

EDUARDO ROMERO>> WELL, I PUT, LIKE, A BATTERY IN A WIRE AND I LEARNED WHERE TO PUT THE BOLT TO THE BATTERY.

LEAH>> BUT IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BOOKS AND STUDYING HERE. JASMINE GRIFFIN AND CAMILLA MOORE LOVE YOGA. IT'S A CLASS THAT'S PART OF THEIR PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.

JASMINE GRIFFIN>> IT'S JUST LIKE YOU'RE BENDING YOUR ARMS AND STUFF, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

LEAH>> IS IT HARD TO DO IT WHILE YOU'RE LAUGHING?

CAMILLA MOORE>> (LAUGHTER) NO, NO, IT ISN'T. (LAUGHTER)

LEAH>> IT'S LIKE TORTURE, HUH?

CAMILLA MOORE>> (LAUGHTER) IT'S TORTURING ME.

LEAH>> ANNIE BUCKLEY HAS BEEN A TEACHER FOR TWELVE YEARS. THIS YEAR SHE'S TEACHING YOGA. WHILE IT MAY SOUND AN ODD REQUIREMENT FOR YOUNGSTERS, BUCKLEY SAYS YOGA TEACHES THE STUDENTS COORDINATION, CONCENTRATION AND CONTROL.

ANNIE BUCKLEY>> KIDS WILL COME BACK AND TELL ME, "YOU KNOW, I STARTED TO GET MAD AT MY MOM AND THEN I DECIDED TO TRY TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS AND I DID IT AND I FELT CALMER." THEY'LL TELL ME, "WELL, I COULDN'T SLEEP AND I WENT AND I PUT MY LEGS UP THE WALL AND IT HELPED ME."

LEAH>> TAMARA HUNTER TAKES COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT HER CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT PERSONAL DISCIPLINE. SHE'S THE MOTHER OF SIX-YEAR-OLD DYLAN AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DARRYL. SHE PUT DARRYL ON THE SCHOOL'S WAITING LIST WHEN HE WAS JUST EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD.

TAMARA HUNTER>> WHEN I DROP MY SONS OFF AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THE TEACHERS PICK UP WHERE I LEAVE OFF IN TERMS OF TEACHING. I'M DOING THAT AT HOME. GUIDING. I'M DOING THAT AT HOME. INSTRUCTING. I'M DOING THAT AT HOME.

LEAH>> HUNTER SAYS TEACHERS HERE ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALITY AND TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S ON THE MINDS OF EVERY CHILD. LIKE THE TIME DYLAN'S KINDERGARTEN TEACHER NOTICED HE WASN'T HIS USUAL OUTGOING SELF.

TAMARA HUNTER>> SHE NOTICED THAT DYLAN WAS KIND OF IN A DOWN MOOD AND SHE SAID TO HIM, "WHAT'S WRONG?" AND HE SAID, "I MISS MY MOMMY." WELL, SHE TOOK TIME OUT OF HER DAY. SHE TOOK DYLAN ASIDE AND, FROM CLASS, SHE CALLED ME AT WORK AND SHE SAID, "I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP. DYLAN WAS FEELING KIND OF SAD. HE MISSED YOU." SHE PUT HIM ON THE PHONE SO THAT I COULD TALK TO HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS SCHOOL DAY AND LET HIM KNOW THAT I'M NOT FAR AWAY AND THAT I LOVE HIM, AND IT TURNED HIS DAY AROUND. THAT TEACHER WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO MY SON.

LEAH>> OLIVIA IRLANDO IS DYLAN'S KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN SAN FRANCISCO'S UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND APPRECIATES HOW THE SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.

OLIVIA IRLANDO>> THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT THIS SCHOOL I THINK IS REALLY FOSTERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AT THIS SCHOOL. THE SIZE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE WHICH HAS AN EFFECT IN THE CLASSROOM. THERE ARE LESS KIDS HERE, SO THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE SCHOOL-WIDE THINGS.

LEAH>> JOY HUNTER WORKED AS A TEACHER FOR THE L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE SAYS THE ACCELERATED SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY A DREAM FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, IT ALSO ALLOWS TEACHERS TO DO THEIR BEST.

JOY HUNTER>> IT'S NOT SO STRUCTURED. I HAVE A LOT MORE FREEDOM AS TO WHAT I WANT TO TEACH AND HOW I WANT TO PACE MYSELF AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

JESS>> BEST SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY. RATHER THAN JUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR CHILD IS EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD TO SIGN UP FOR IT, SINCE THERE'S A WAITING LIST NOW, WHAT, 1,200?

VAL>> 1,200, THE WAITING LIST IS, BUT THEY'RE HOPING TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY TAKE IT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN --

JESS>> -- IT'S ONLY K THROUGH EIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

VAL>> RIGHT, BUT IF THEY TAKE IT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL, NOT ONLY THE KIDS WHO ARE THERE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE, BUT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BRING MORE KIDS IN. AND THE TEST SCORES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. AT THE ACCELERATED SCHOOL, THE CHILDREN TEST IN THE 52ND PERCENTILE VERSUS THE 20TH PERCENTILE, SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HOPE YOUR LABOR DAY WAS LABOR-FREE. TAKE CARE.

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