DRUG COURT LIKELY TO ESCAPE BUDGET CUTS

YORK - Even with the budget ax looming over many state and local programs,
the York County drug court aimed at helping residents kick the habit
instead of going to jail is likely to survive another year.

The drug court, which provides an intensive treatment, counseling and
supervision program as an alternative to prison sentencing, has been
approved for another round of federal money, said 16th Circuit Solicitor
Tommy Pope. And the state has again budgeted

$1 million in matching money that local county drug courts can apply for.
"We will aggressively seek a portion of that money for York County," Pope said.

The drug court for nonviolent offenders began in October with money from a
$135,000 federal grant that was matched by about $33,000 in state funds,
said Jan Gillespie, the drug court program manager.

And if last-minute budget wrangling in the S.C. Legislature were to somehow
cut the state funds, the York County Council has agreed through two
readings of next year's county budget to provide the matching money,
Gillespie said.

More than 25 people already are enrolled in the program, which could see
its first graduating class in October.

"This program expects huge changes from people, and those people will end
up back in the community," said Janet Martini, executive director of
Keystone Substance Abuse Services of Rock Hill, which provides the
treatment for the drug court clients. "It is already having a tremendous
impact."

With the early success of the adult drug court, the solicitor's office is
trying to start a similar program for youths. Pope's office has not yet
received official word on a federal grant to start a juvenile drug court,
but the office has received correspondence about the grant application for
that program and has trained people to run it, Gillespie said.