News (Media Awareness Project) - US LA: Editorial: Drug Court Problems Warrant Investigation |
| Title: | US LA: Editorial: Drug Court Problems Warrant Investigation |
| Published On: | 2001-09-30 |
| Source: | American Press (LA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 07:36:21 |
DRUG COURT PROBLEMS WARRANT INVESTIGATION
A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge is investigating a drug treatment
center that was closed recently because it ran out of money.
The Straight and Narrow Drug Treatment Center was order closed by Judge Pro
Tempore Salvador Mule, who ruled that the center was out of money. Mule was
appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to oversee administration of the
Baton Rouge juvenile court, including Straight and Narrow.
The drug treatment center and a juvenile drug court were started by East
Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Judge Pam Taylor. Taxpayer-funded grants
totaling $502,000 had been obtained to fund the court through June 2002.
However, as of last week, only about $6,000 remained, public records show.
Much of the money went to pay the salaries of the center's two managers:
administrator Peter John and treatment director Ferlenzo Holmes, neither of
who are licensed counselors. John worked part time and made $68,000 while
Holmes made $50,000 per year.
John, a lawyer, defied Mule's court order ordering him to turn over some of
the center's financial record.
Mule said that John's lack of cooperation lead to the closure of the facility.
Johnson has said that she set up Straight and Narrow because Baton Rouge
lacked another facility suitable for a Juvenile Drug Court program.
However, Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Richey has said she sends children
from her court to a state-run treatment program.
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff deputies carried off files, computers and
equipment from the clinic after the court order was enforced.
John and Holmes' part in the center's expenditures should be investigated.
Reports indicate that the federal grand jury is also investigating the
grant application Johnson filed to get the federal grant.
State Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle has said his office will also look into
the matter after the grand jury's work is done.
On the surface, this appears to be another abuse of taxpayers' money.
We hope the investigating bodies will dig deep to find all the people
responsible for the center's financial problems.
A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge is investigating a drug treatment
center that was closed recently because it ran out of money.
The Straight and Narrow Drug Treatment Center was order closed by Judge Pro
Tempore Salvador Mule, who ruled that the center was out of money. Mule was
appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to oversee administration of the
Baton Rouge juvenile court, including Straight and Narrow.
The drug treatment center and a juvenile drug court were started by East
Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Judge Pam Taylor. Taxpayer-funded grants
totaling $502,000 had been obtained to fund the court through June 2002.
However, as of last week, only about $6,000 remained, public records show.
Much of the money went to pay the salaries of the center's two managers:
administrator Peter John and treatment director Ferlenzo Holmes, neither of
who are licensed counselors. John worked part time and made $68,000 while
Holmes made $50,000 per year.
John, a lawyer, defied Mule's court order ordering him to turn over some of
the center's financial record.
Mule said that John's lack of cooperation lead to the closure of the facility.
Johnson has said that she set up Straight and Narrow because Baton Rouge
lacked another facility suitable for a Juvenile Drug Court program.
However, Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Richey has said she sends children
from her court to a state-run treatment program.
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff deputies carried off files, computers and
equipment from the clinic after the court order was enforced.
John and Holmes' part in the center's expenditures should be investigated.
Reports indicate that the federal grand jury is also investigating the
grant application Johnson filed to get the federal grant.
State Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle has said his office will also look into
the matter after the grand jury's work is done.
On the surface, this appears to be another abuse of taxpayers' money.
We hope the investigating bodies will dig deep to find all the people
responsible for the center's financial problems.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
