SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRACKDOWN TARGETS 187 SOUTHWEST VIRGINIANS ON PAROLE, PROBATION

NORTON - A recent substance abuse crackdown involving parolees and
probationers from four Southwest Virginia counties has netted multiple
violations and arrests.

Nearly 200 offenders in Washington, Russell, Dickenson and Smythe counties
and Bristol were subjected to unannounced substance abuse testing Monday.

Those targeted had a history of substance abuse charges and were suspected
of continuing to abuse drugs.

Of the 187 people tested, 29 tested positive for substance abuse, with 42
warrants issued. Eight offenders failed to show for the test and are being
sought.

Marijuana, cocaine, opiates and Benzodiazepine were the primary illegal
substances detected, said police. The tests were conducted at the District
17 office in Abingdon, the Mountain Empire Day Reporting Center, and the
Dickenson County Courthouse in Clintwood.

The testing is part of Gov. Jim Gilmore's Substance Abuse Reduction Effort
(SABRE).

Walt Pulliam, chief of operations for Community Corrections, said the
purpose of the initiative is to detect drug problems with probationers and
parolees early on so they can seek treatment.

"If they are clean, wonderful. But if they have crossed the line, they have
a price to pay," Pulliam said.

Offenders who violate the drug-free statute of their parole or probation
are automatically arrested and jailed.

Pulliam said the courts look at individual cases differently. For a
first-time parole violator, the judge may require stricter supervision. For
a habitual offender, it may mean the loss of their parole or probation and
institution of the original offense sentencing requirements.

The Abingdon and Dickenson County areas are not the only regions targeted
by the Department of Corrections. For several years, ongoing crackdowns
have occurred in selected locations including Richmond, Virginia Beach and
Suffolk. This is the first time Southwest Virginia has been the target area.

Pulliam said the recent awareness of prescription drug abuse in Southwest
Virginia, mainly dealing with OxyContin, was also on the minds of crackdown
organizers.

"OxyContin was one of the substances that is being abused, and OxyContin
was one of the things we were looking for," Pulliam said.

Although regular drug testing is required for most parolees and
probationers, Pulliam said the crackdown effort was different because it
targeted a large number of residents in one day.

Similar enforcement efforts will be ongoing throughout the state, he added.

"I'd like to say that we were surprised by the number of offenders. But we
are looking at people with a long history of substance abuse. ... It's a
long-term problem, and a slip-and-slide process. But we need to be seeing
progress or someone needs to pay the piper," Pulliam said.