DRUG COURT GRADS TELL SUCCESS STORIES

David Clark, 23, Of Jackson Graduated Tuesday Night.

His graduation wasn't from college, like hundreds of Mississippi students
will do within the next two weeks.

Clark graduated from the Hinds County Drug Court Diversion Program in a
ceremony at the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson.

"I now know there's life out there after drugs and alcohol," said Clark,
one of four students who completed the two-year program.

The Legislature on Tuesday added its endorsement of the program by
approving funding for drug courts statewide. Ten other Circuit and Youth
court districts use the program, and five others are trying to develop drug
courts.

A graduation certificate was also given posthumously to Brenda Hale, a
participant who had completed all the requirements but died in February of
a terminal illness, County Judge Mike Parker said. The other graduates were
Tommie Ray Lane, Sirwallace Turner and Charles Wiggins.

Clark is now attending Hinds Community College in psychology.

The graduates all had a success story to tell.

Wiggins had been abusing alcohol or drugs for nearly 50 years until he got
into the program.

"I never thought treatment would do me any good," Wiggins said. "But it's
been a year and eight months since treatment. I just go to church now. I
see clearly. I will keep a sober life."

Wiggins said he would have been incarcerated if it wasn't for the treatment.

Lane said he had a couple of relapses, but people wouldn't give up on him,
and he has now been drug- and alcohol-free for two years.

"It was very important to be here to support Tommy," said Lane's cousin,
Pat Hickman of Jackson, who attended the graduation.

State Attorney General Jim Hood, the keynote speaker, told participants
"you have this opportunity and you need to take advantage of it."

The Drug Court program is for mostly first-time drug possession offenders.
If they complete the program, participants can have the conviction expunged
from their records. Attendees also must submit to frequent drug screening,
report to Parker and get a job.

Other programs are in the 2nd Circuit of Hancock, Harrison and Stone
counties; the 4th Circuit of Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties;
the 8th Circuit of Leake, Neshoba, Newton and Scott counties; the 11th
Circuit in Bolivar and Coahoma counties; the 12th Circuit of Forrest and
Perry counties; the 14th Circuit of Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties;
the 19th Circuit of George, Greene and Jackson counties; Adams County Youth
Court; Madison County Youth Court; and Ridgeland Municipal Court.

Programs in the planning stages include the 3rd Circuit in Lafayette
County; the 6th Circuit in Adams County; the 9th Circuit in Issaquena,
Sharkey and Warren counties; DeSoto County Youth Court; and Forrest County
Youth Court.