DEAL TO KEEP DRUG ADDICTS OUT OF JAIL AND IN TREATMENT

Genesee County - Drug addicts who get arrested no longer will have to wait
for treatment or have their treatment shortened, thanks to a deal to
provide them with ready access to counseling.

The county became one of the first in Michigan three years ago to offer
"drug courts," which divert addicts from jail and get them into treatment.
But the waiting list for treatment was as long as four weeks, allowing time
for offenders to continue their lifestyle.

In order to cut the wait, Genesee Circuit Court has agreed to a $175,000
contract with the county Health Department to arrange counseling for drug
offenders.

The Health Department will develop a proposal this month to contract and
monitor treatment services for drug offenders, said Kristie Schmiege,
director of behavioral health services. The department already doles out
state money to drug-abuse treatment agencies.

"Drug court clients, along with any other person using public money for
drug treatment, were subject to waits," Schmiege said, the exception being
Medicaid clients. "Public funds for substance abuse is way behind our
needs. But the court has been able to carve out a different funding stream
to hold slots for them."

The program is financed with federal substance-abuse block grants and some
state money, and as many as 100 people will be served in a year, said Diane
Melton, drug court administrator.

Judges can refer nonviolent drug offenders to the county's Intake and
Referral Assessment Center, where it's determined if they need in-house
treatment or outpatient counseling. The offender has a choice among 25-30
treatment centers.

Under the new agreement, the Health Department will contract with agencies
to which offenders will be assigned.

The total number of county drug offenders is unclear, but an estimated 40
percent of the county's 2,400 to 2,500 annual felony arrests are drug-related.

"In these economic times, people have come to realize that incarcerating
people is expensive," said Circuit Judge Richard B. Yuille. "Then there are
those who believe people addicted to drugs shouldn't have been (in jail) in
the first place. This program addresses both those concerns."