SHASTA CLAIMS STRIDES IN FIGHT AGAINST METH

REDDING - Shasta County is "getting the upper hand in the fight
against methamphetamine," according to the county's District
Attorney's office, experiencing its lowest number of methamphetamine
cases in more than a decade.

The number of methamphetamine cases between 2005 and 2006 decreased
27.4 percent, according to District Attorney Jerry Benito.

"In fact, the number of methamphetamine possession, sales, and
transportation cases filed in 2006 is the lowest in Shasta County
since before 1993," according to a release.

"It was a shock to us," Benito said. "We were not expecting such a
dramatic change."

Benito attributes the success in part to a new policy in 2005
requiring all methamphetamine possession, sales and transportation
cases to be prosecuted as felonies, whereas before, nearly 200 cases
per year were prosecuted as misdemeanors.

A stepped-up effort to send people to prison for failing drug
treatment under Proposition 36 has helped, he added. People convicted
of felonies are more likely to stick with treatment
Advertisementprograms to get the help they need, he said, "now that
there's a consequence" to meth use. More DUI cases are being
prosecuted now too, "which we believe is a direct result of
heightened awareness and efforts by law enforcement," the report said.

The number of DUI arrests doubled from 2005 to 2006, according to the
DA's office.

Getting a DUI in Shasta County will alter your life. Once convicted
of one, you have to stay away from bars or liquor stores for up to
five years, he said. Not only that, but DUI felons are ordered to go
to alcohol rehabilitation programs immediately and must report that
they have done so.

"We're trying to make sure they follow through," he said.

The county has also done more warrant sweeps of those who were
arrested for driving under the influence but didn't go to court, he said.

As far as future goals are concerned, Benito said, the DA's office
wants to "improve our work with victims" and work to stop illegal
dumping. Trashing rural areas - rather than taking one's trash to the
dump - has become a real problem, he said.

In other news, more felony and misdemeanor cases were filed between
2005 and 2005, most of them in misdemeanor traffic violations.