LOCAL DRUG COURT AVOIDS BUDGET AX, SET TO START NEXT WEEK

Program For Nonviolent Offenders Emphasizes Ending Addiction

State budget cuts won't cut the new drug court in Madison County,
which is scheduled to begin its first session next week.

District Attorney Tim Morgan, District judges Lynn Sherrod and Buddy
Little and other court officials held a news conference Tuesday to
promote the new drug court.

Madison County is the sixth judicial circuit to create the special
court, which allows nonviolent drug offenders to plead guilty and
later have the charges dropped if they successfully complete drug
treatment programs, obtain a job and meet other requirements.

Participation in the program is limited - drug dealers and persons
charged with distributing or possessing excessive amounts of drugs
will not be eligible. Offenders with a violent criminal past will also
be excluded from the drug court.

Heather Douglas, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said
the drug court is voluntary. Suspects and their attorneys must weigh
whether to plead guilty and try to kick their habit, or take their
chances in court. Those who opt for drug court must plead guilty.
Their sentences will be deferred until completion or termination from
the program.

Offenders immediately begin the multistep program beginning with
treatment. The program may also include help those wishing to obtain a
high school graduation equivalency diploma, or GED. Upon completion
(which typically takes 12 to 18 months), offenders go back to the
judge who took their plea and can have that case dismissed.

Those who falter are returned to court and face prison.

"There is no lesser-included. You either pass the program or you go
back to prison. It's all or nothing,'' Douglas said.

Douglas said the drug court puts emphasis on ending drug addiction
rather than punishment for use. Because drugs can account for 85
percent of all crimes, the drug court could sharply reduce other
crimes. "Basically, it's getting people help. It's not so much
punishment as a route for help.''

Studies elsewhere show only about 15 percent drug court participants
repeat their crimes, compared to a 50 percent to 60 percent for
defendants processed through conventional courts.

Meanwhile, as many as 500 court employees across the state will be
laid off by the end of November because of state budget cuts. Madison
County expects 24 people will lose their jobs, including nine law
clerks or court attendants for circuit and district judges, three
employees in the court administrator's office, a juvenile referee, a
part-time court magistrate, and 10 workers in the circuit clerk's
office. Douglas said the drug court should save money and avoid delays
in court hearings by accelerating the disposition of cases.