COUNTY TO START YOUTH DRUG COURT

PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County youth judges and prosecutors will have
another option for handling cases beginning April 1, with the
opening of a new youth drug court.

While Jackson County judges hearing cases involving adults have
established drug court policies, youth court judges did not have that option.

"It's a very important program for Jackson County," said Youth Court
Judge Sharon Sigalas, who said that a number of cases before her are
the result of juveniles using drugs.

The youth drug court will cost about $250,000, with most of the
funding coming from the state, according to Jackson County Youth
Court administrator Cynthia Wilson. She said the court is designed
for about 40 juvenile offenders.

The program will have four new employees -- a coordinator, case
manager and two treatment counselors.

Wilson said the grant for drug court is for $240,000, which is based
on $6,000 per offender.

The county would be required to pay additional costs, such as most
office and testing supplies.

Sigalas said the program is for first-time, non-violent offenders.
The program will require mandatory counseling for the offender's
parents to try to determine the reason behind the drug use before
the juvenile offender ends up in adult court, she said.

"We are going to try to teach offenders different approaches to
handling things," she said. "We want to help kids choose something
besides using drugs. It is a good program for families."

With parents, she said, the court will work to help develop better
parenting skills.

"Our job is to try to prevent kids from graduating to the adult
system," Sigalas said. "This is another tool to do that job."

Sigalas said the two primary causes of juvenile drug abuse in
Jackson County are peer pressure and boredom.

"Those are the two most common excuses," she said. "We don't have a
lot for kids to do and what we are offering, they are not interested in."

Wilson told the Board of Supervisors on Monday that approving the
program means they agree to pay for the items the state grant does
not provide.

"If we need it, you will support it," she said.

Wilson also said that the county is responsible for the initial
payments of youth drug court costs. Once the payments are made, she
said the state grant would reimburse the county.

"It's the same procedure as (adult) drug court," Sigalas said.