FORREST TO GET DRUG COURT

Forrest-Perry Circuit Judge Bob Helfrich said he will announce today the
formation of an adult drug court.

Helfrich would not comment on details expected to be outlined at an
afternoon press conference.

Helfrich, who took office in January, has been a proponent of alternative
sentencing since he served as a prosecutor in the Forrest-Perry district
attorney's office.

The guiding principle behind a drug court is that many crimes are
drug-related or are committed by people with drug addictions.

The court seeks to treat the addiction rather than run drug suspects
through the court system, where they are likely to be released and commit
more crimes.

"I think it's going to be a good program for first-time offenders," said
Glen Moore, commander of the Metro Narcotics Task Force.

In an interview in February, Helfrich talked about a visit he had made to
review a drug court operation in Brookhaven's 14th Circuit Court District.

The 14th District's drug court, which covers Pike, Lincoln and Walthall
counties, was the first in the state when it began in 1999.

"I talked to the addicts in the program, and they can't say enough good
things about it," Helfrich said at that time. "To me it's a no-brainer to
implement it. We've got to have it."

"I think in times past, the system hasn't done anything to help people
fighting an addiction," Moore said.

More than 300,000 people have gone though drug courts across the country,
according to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. About 70
percent of those graduated without relapsing.

Judge Keith Starrett, the 14th District's judge, said Tuesday the program's
relapse rate is 12 percent, as compared to a 75 percent recidivism rate
when drug addicts are sent to jail.

"It's tremendously effective," Starrett said. "Everyone in drug court is
either working at a job or doing community service. Everybody's paying
taxes or contributing to the community."

The 14th District drug court currently has 120 people participating in the
program.

"Half of those people would be in jail but for drug court," Starrett said.

Starrett said it costs an average of $20,000 a year to house a prisoner in
Mississippi. The state would be spending an additional $1.2 million on
those extra 60 people if the 14th District's drug court did not exist.
Starrett said his court's annual budget is $180,000, which is a $1 million
difference in savings.

Since 1999, the number of drug courts in Mississippi has grown to nine.

"Things are starting to move. It's going to be available to half the
citizens of the state within the next year or two," Starrett said.

Drug courts give addicts a structured, disciplined second chance.

"It's an effort to help people get their lives in order, rather than
sitting in jail at the public's expense," said Beverly Kraft, media
relations professional for the state Administrative Office of Courts.

Drug court programs include periodic drug screening, treatment, education,
supervision and requiring participants to work toward a GED and keep a job.

"Drug court is about responsibility, accountability and safer communities,"
Starrett said. "If you have fewer addicts on the street, you are going to
have a safer community."