COMMUNITY MUST MEET CRITICAL NEED

Adult Drug Court Finding gainful employment for drug court
participants is critical. Are you willing to help? If so, contact Lucy
Davenport, the drug court coordinator for Forrest-Perry Circuit Court,
at 545-1321 or 270-7281.

One year ago our community didn't even have a drug court.

Now, the Adult Drug Court started last October by Forrest-Perry
Circuit Court Judge Bob Helfrich is being considered as a training
site for the National Drug Court Institute.

That's quite an achievement, especially when you consider there are
only about 20 such courts nationwide.

If the Forrest-Perry Adult Drug Court attains "model" status, drug
court officials from across the country will travel to Hattiesburg to
study the program.

If and when they get here, they'll discover a dynamic program that is
changing the lives of dozens of drug offenders. (There are currently
67 people enrolled in Adult Drug Court.)

But will they also see a community that has embraced the program - and
the concept - and is providing employment opportunities for drug court
participants?

In April, Helfrich said the continued success of the Adult Drug Court
might ultimately depend on the community: whether businesses are
willing to provide jobs for reformed drug offenders.

"We need employers to set aside 'probationary' jobs for these people
to be able to prove themselves," said Helfrich.

Today, four months later, the situation has improved - but only slightly.

"Some businesses have given us a chance," said Helfrich Tuesday, "but
there's still a great need for employers to provide jobs for these people."

It's in the community's best interest to give reformed drug users a chance.

Consider the numbers: According to Carolyn Harden, project director of
the National Drug Court Institute, the recidivism rate for drug
offenders not involved in a drug court environment is between 60
percent and 70 percent. By contrast, the recidivism rate for drug
court participants (based on a 1999-2000 study) is about 16 percent.

And given the fact that 80 percent of all crimes are drug related,
helping drug users kick the habit - through a rigorous, highly
monitored program - represents a wise, strategic approach to the problem.

Finding gainful employment for drug court participants is critical.

Are you willing to help?

If so, contact Lucy Davenport, the drug court coordinator, at 545-1321
or 270-7281.