ALUMNI'S RETURN SHOWS SUCCESS OF BROWARD'S DRUG COURT

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Shari Phillips knows plenty about second chances.

Five years ago, strung out on crack cocaine and scarred by various failed
suicide attempts, she had hit a wall.

"I wanted to die," said Phillips, 32. "They'd put me in jail, in rehab, but
it didn't work."

With little to lose, Phillips enrolled in the Broward County Drug Court, an
outpatient treatment program run by Broward County Judge Melanie May. The
program is set up to help first-time drug offenders through counseling.
Even then, Phillips found it difficult to adapt.

"I wasn't clean for the first five months of the program," Phillips said.
"But with the help of my counselor, I made it through."

On Wednesday, Phillips returned to the program that cleaned her up as an
alumni speaker for the 35th Broward County Drug Court graduation, which
marked the 10th anniversary of the organization. 100 graduates were honored
at the Broward County Main Library Auditorium, at 100 S. Andrews Ave. in
Fort Lauderdale.

To participate in the Drug Court program, a defendant must enter a plea of
not guilty and agree to complete at least one year of intensive outpatient
treatment. Once these requirements are met, the charges are dismissed and
the defendant's records are sealed. The program includes frequent
counseling sessions and drug tests, May said.

Clients are charged on a sliding scale. The average cost of the program is
$460 per person. Currently, there are about 1,100 people enrolled in the
Drug Court program. Graduations are held every three months, said Mary
Lewis, program manager for the Drug Court treatment program.

Individuals are strictly monitored for more intensive treatment in a
residential program when needed to prevent relapses, May said.

The court opened in the summer of 1991. One of hundreds, the Fort
Lauderdale Drug Court was the third drug court in the nation, behind Las
Vegas and Miami. The main goal of the Drug Court is treatment and hopes to
provide an alternative to incarceration, May said.

The program provides participants with not only a second chance, but a new
outlook on life, said graduate Tony Randall.

"It opened my eyes. They do their best to help you," said Randall, 20.
"It's not just drug help, it's all types. Now I have a chance to live my life."