BATON ROUGE DRUG COURT WASTES PUBLIC MONEY

For every thousand Americans ages 10-17, nearly seven were arrested for
drug abuse violations two years ago. That was more than double the number
arrested in 1990, according to the national Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention.

Drug abuse and addiction among youth is a serious problem in America.
That's why allegations of system abuse at a publicly funded drug treatment
center in Baton Rouge are so appalling.

Juvenile Court Judge Pam Taylor Johnson received more than $500,000 in
federal grants and state money two years ago to set up a drug court.
Instead of farming out treatment to local providers like the other 31 drug
courts in the state do, Johnson used the money to create a treatment center.

Here's what she did, according to an investigation by The (Baton Rouge)
Advocate: She hired an attorney to lead the center. He doesn't work full
time there, yet he makes almost $68,000 a year. He hired his roommate and
business partner as treatment director at $50,000. Neither man is a
licensed counselor.

The top guy also hired the mother of his child to do clerical work at the
center. He pays her $10 per hour. When she's not there, she works in his
law office.

Treatment center employees spent about $25,000 to travel to meetings in a
15-month period. Auditors can't file a report yet because the receipts,
conference agendas and other backup information are missing. An American
Express statement shows two airline tickets purchased for Miami, but there
are no records of the reason for the trip, the name of a conference or even
if the employees used those tickets.

Center records are also unclear on the number of graduates. The boss told
The Advocate that there were 39 grads. The center, though, gave the names
of only 21 graduates to the local Department of Juvenile Services.

Of the actual graduates, one tested positive for marijuana on the day he
wore his cap and gown. Other grads were sent to prison either on or before
the day of their graduation.

The $500,000 grant funding for the Straight and Narrow Drug Treatment
Center is supposed to run through June 2002. The center is in danger of
running out of money before then. State officials announced a few weeks ago
that the center will receive no further funding.

This happened in Baton Rouge, but it could happen anywhere. This is why we,
the newspaper, and you, the public, need to hold accountable those who
spend taxpayers' money.