SOUTH MISSISSIPPI DRUG COURT CELEBRATES 1ST GRADUATION

LUCEDALE - Idice Terry's dream of a drug-free life has come true with two
years of sobriety behind her and a diploma that shows she is one of nine to
graduate from the drug court program in Jackson, George and Greene counties.

"This program basically raised me all over again," Terry said Thursday
before the drug court's first-ever graduation. The program started in south
Mississippi in 2002 at the direction of Senior Circuit Judge Kathy King
Jackson.

Terry credits Jackson and Joanne Byrd, the court's coordinator, for leading
her to a life that no longer includes crack cocaine or crystal
methamphetamine and other drugs. "I owe that woman (Jackson) my life," she
said. "If she hadn't started this program, there would've been nowhere else
for me to go. I really feel like I owe her and Joanne and my mom. My mom
was a big supporter. I can never give back to them what they gave me."

Specialized drug courts are gaining popularity in the state despite
remaining mostly unfunded by the state Legislature. The first one opened in
1995 in Ridgeland. Drug courts provide an alternative to incarceration of
nonviolent offenders. They were designed to rehabilitate drug users through
treatment programs, intense supervision with drug testing and frequent
court appearances.

Former Attorney General Mike Moore urged Jackson to start the court in
south Mississippi.

"I have seen a transformation. This is a program that she didn't have to
do," Moore said. "This is a program that she wanted to do. It's remarkable
what I've seen achieved here. I tell you what I call it. I call it a
miracle." Participants are drug tested, required to hold a job and perform
community service, and go to the library once a week, among other things.
If a person completes the program, the drug charge is removed from their
record.

There are 13 drug courts in the state, with 109 people presently enrolled
in the program for Jackson, George and Greene counties. "It's the only
thing I do every week that I look forward to doing," Jackson said of the
drug court program. "Every time I go to drug court, I feel better about
people. It's the most rewarding and heartbreaking thing I've ever done.
When one fails, it breaks your heart. But thankfully, the successes
outnumber the failures."

Those graduating along with Terry were William Darden, Belinda Davis, Lisa
Kyle, Tommie Kyle, Brad McDonald, Julia Mills, Michael Mills and Tabbatha
Smith.

"These are some of the most courageous people I know," Jackson said. "They
changed me. I look around at the nine of them, and it's like my own kids. I
told them it was my first litter."