>> judge vanderkarr: yes. it's too social work. that's not my job.job's to be a judge. >> dewine: drug courts work. ah, some people look at them and say, well, it's-- you know, it's-- the judge becoming a social worker. it's not true at all. >> whitaker: it worked for caitlyn and robert -- not their real names. they were both arrested for heroin possession and went to judge vanderkarr's court after being addicted to heroin for years. >> caitlyn: it was this, like, really, like, animal instinct level, like, obsession with-- with getting high. >> whitaker: you had to do it? >> caitlyn: even when i didn't want to, like, wou-- really using against my will. >> whitaker: where did you get the money? >> robert: stealing, lying, cheating. using other people. ripping other people off. >> caitlyn: i had no relationship with reality at all. umm, my -- my thinking was limited to how i could get high. >> whitaker: in judge vanderkarr's court, they both were given a new chance. >> robert: it's a gift. >> whitaker: what's the gift? >> robert: life. a new way to liv

we went to one in columbus, that was being run at the time by judge scott vanderkarr. he was handling only heroin cases four times a week. the judge believes heroin addiction is an illness and in his court, heroin addicts are treated more like patients than criminals. >> how long have you been clean? >> i have been clean for 84 days. >> reporter: there are students in the courtroom, a teacher, a state employee, the ceo of a tech company. if they come here for up to two years, get drug tested and stay clean, their heroin charges are dismissed. >> sort of use the carrot and the stick? >> absolutely. >> stick with the program or i will put you back in jail? >> put you back in jail and you are going to end up with a conviction on your record. >> beaver i went into detox. before i went into detox. >> reporter: under the judge, 250 addicts went through the program. people who might otherwise be in jail or dead. >> you get resistance from judges? >> absolutely. >> reporter: what's their criticism? too touchy feely? >> yes too, social work. that's not my job. my job is to be a