NEW DRUG COURT TO PROMOTE REHABILITATION

Judge Says Program Provides Treatment To Addicts Instead Of Jail Time

A team of eight people headed by Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer
Bailey Walker hopes to establish by July 1 the county's first drug
court, which will divert non-violent adult drug criminals into
supervision and rehabilitation instead of prison.

The participants began training last October and attended additional
sessions this week in Morgantown to learn the benefits of drug
courts and the logistics of creating the program here.

Judge Bailey Walker said a drug court could provide help for
addicted criminals through treatment programs instead of jail time.
But she said it could also make an impact on public safety and help
reign in the soaring cost of incarceration.

"Primarily, we're looking at community safety and wellbeing," she
said. "And there's a feeling that we just have to look at something
different. Because locking them up is just not working."

Drug court would involve two circuit court judges who will agree to
take on offenders who agree to report to court for close supervision
- - appearing at least once a week before the judge for a review.

They will also enter an inpatient or outpatient drug rehabilitation
program and receive close counseling to help with educational and
family needs. The program would take at least 12-18 months and would
include frequent drug tests, incentives for improvement
and possibly mentoring by a community member.

"It will be a very intensive look at these individuals," said Judge
Bailey Walker. "It will include close accountability. We want them
to work, to receive training, to get drivers' licenses, a GED.
We want them to support their families."

According to crime statistics compiled by the West Virginia State
Police, there were more than 1,500 narcotics crimes committed in
Kanawha County in 2005, the most recent data. But Judge Bailey
Walker points out that drug violations alone are not the whole picture.

"People eligible for drug court may be making meth, they may be
selling cocaine," she said. "But they are also involved in breaking
and entering, credit card forgery, anything to get money for more drugs."

Circuit Court Administrator Steve Hanley, also a member of the drug
court team, agrees.

"They are out there stealing, breaking into cars," Hanley said. Not
only do we save money by keeping them out of the penitentiary, the
county saves money because they are out there committing a million
little crimes to get money for drugs."

Hanley said he was unfamiliar with the drug court concept until he
became part of the project.

"I knew nothing about drug court," he said. "But after watching and
seeing the results, how they are making a life for themselves, I'm
convinced. We want to get them off the streets. This brings them
back into the community, to be able to function in the community."

Judge Bailey Walker said incarceration isn't the solution for a
large number of drug criminals.

"It's easy to lock people up, and they are gone," she said. "But
they come back. And they are not getting the rehabilitation they need."

The judge has been interested in establishing a Kanawha County drug
court for several years.

"There's a feeling that we ought to try it," she said. "It's our
time to do it right now. I think we owe it to our children."

The county is applying for a federal grant to help with the cost of
the drug court. Gov. Joe Manchin said in his State of the State
address that he wantsd to expand the state's drug court program. He
promised $2.5 million to start eight new drug courts, including
Kanawha County's.

Kanawha County would not be the first to implement a drug court. The
Northern Panhandle Treatment Court serves five northern counties,
The Southern Regional Drug Court operates in Mercer County and the
West Central Drug Court Diversion Program opened last year for Wood
and Wirt Counties.

Two counties - Cabell and Wayne - have juvenile drug court programs.

Hanley said, "This is something that is sweeping the nation now."

Other members of the team working to implement Kanawha's drug court
are Assistant Prosecutor Scott Reynolds; public defender Ronni
Sheets; counselor Leah Kelley and officer Tammy Hyre with the county
day reporting center; Jennifer Herrald and Joanne Keller with the
county commission office and Judy Jones, chief adult probation officer.