Santana’s story is not about a 20-year-old cured of addiction. It’s too early for that chapter. Just two weeks ago he suffered at least his third relapse, cashing in an inheritance check for enough smack to keep him high for a day.

What separates Santana’s story from conventional wisdom is this—it isn’t shelter workers, drug counselors or psychotherapists who have labored the hardest to promote his recovery.

Instead, it’s a pair of Multnomah County judges working in an already overburdened legal system. They and other judges have been forced to take on new roles as budget cuts shred Portland’s social safety net to pieces.

Judge Michael McShane drove Santana across town in McShane’s Subaru Outback to get him into detox, bought him shoes at the downtown discount store Ross Dress for Less and even helped him apply for a state food handler’s license on McShane’s office computer.

Judge Eric Bloch has counseled Santana from the bench, bought him food and helped him secure a spot in residential drug treatment.

Forget the image of a black-robed figure cloistered with law books and gavel. Multnomah County judges today are forced to act as front-line social workers—playing nanny in a state so lacking in basic services, judges otherwise must watch severely drug-addicted and mentally ill defendants walk out of court with virtually no help or supervision.

(via meloukhia)

it’s been pretty much all good news out portland lately, hasn’t it?  jesus.