SCALED-DOWN DRUG COURT GETS GO-AHEAD

Program Will Grow As Funds Available

Chatham County will soon have a drug court -- but on a scaled down , pilot
version.

Superior Court Administrator Danny DeLoach said Thursday the first session
is scheduled in early October using $134,000 in state funds already in hand.

The court is designed to feature treatment rather than incarceration of
some drug offenders -- generally those on their first offense.

While court officials had hoped to deal with some 200 first-time offenders,
failure to obtain a $494,156 federal grant had forced a scaling down of the
project, DeLoach said.

The court, to be scheduled before Superior Court Judge James Bass Jr., will
now identify about 50 first-time offenders who have violated probation by
testing positive for drugs on periodic screens, DeLoach said.

Bass could not be reached for comment.

The drug court would be modeled after a similar program now in operation in
a five-county court circuit based on Glynn County.

Because drugs account for more than a third of felony cases in Chatham
County Superior Court, the drug court would try to weed out those cases and
free the system by treating people rather than jailing them.

Nationally there are about 500 such courts.

DeLoach said the initial version will be expanded once additional funds are
found.

"I have requested $232,000 from the legislature." DeLoach said.

He also plans to seek money from the city of Savannah, Chatham County or
the state, DeLoach said.

"Or anywhere I can find some money," DeLoach said.

Senior reporter Jan Skutch can be reached at 6552-0336 or
jskutchsavannahnow.com

What's next: The first session of Chatham County's drug court is scheduled
in early October at the Chatham County Courthouse on Montgomery Street.

What is a drug court: A drug court offers people charged with drug-related
offenses a two-year intensive drug treatment program including counseling,
drug screening and such efforts as education and job training to reverse
addictive behavior. In exchange the offender has the charge dismissed upon
successful completion of the program.

Who will pay for the court: $134,000 in start-up funding from the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council and the governor's office.

Other possible sources: $232,000 requested from the Georgia General
Assembly when the legislature reconvenes in January. Half of a drug and
treatment fund from fines of drug offenders for treatment and education.
The county has been asked to turn that money loose to provide recurring
funding for the project.

The payback: Individuals can be saved from addictive behavior and become
productive members of society. Taxpayers save money. National standards
show that for every dollar spent on drug courts, $14 would be saved by the
system. Courts' dockets are relieved of repeat drug offenders who now
burden caseloads.