DRUG COURT PROGRAM CREDITED FOR TURNING LIVES AROUND

Rather Than Going to Jail, People Get Intensive Treatment

MURFREESBORO - Laura Morrow says she's about to give birth to her first
drug-free baby out of nine.

Without Rutherford County's Drug Court program, she'd "either be dead or in
prison," she says.

Morrow was among the 12 who made up the drug court program's largest
graduating class to date last week.

The 38-year-old says she spent too long with her "windows foggy" from crack
cocaine abuse. But she recently received her General Educational
Development certificate and plans to attend Tennessee Tech to study
surgical technology beginning in January.

Since Drug Court's inception in 2000, ninety-nine people have been accepted
into the program, which puts people convicted of nonviolent crimes because
of drug abuse into an intensive treatment program rather than jail.

Including Wednesday's graduates, 36 have completed the program so far,
coordinator Mary Schneider said. Dozens of others remain in the program,
which lasts 12-18 months and has many phases.

Drug Court supporters are particularly proud that it's not costing
taxpayers a cent. The program initially was paid for by a three-year
Department of Justice grant.

In addition, it costs about $20,000 less per year to put someone through
the program than it does to keep them in jail, and proponents point out
that quickly adds up to millions of dollars in savings.

For the 14 who had graduated from the program as of February - and who
otherwise would be spending a combined 67 years in prison - the program
saved taxpayers $1.3 million, Schneider said.

Although the Justice grant expires in August, more funds are on the horizon.

Passed in June, the state's Drug Court Treatment Act of 2003, sponsored by
state Sen. Larry Trail, D-Murfreesboro, will give counties $75 from every
drug conviction to pay for drug courts statewide. Money from counties that
don't have drug court programs will go into a fund that can give grants to
existing programs.

At Wednesday's graduation, Sherry Ritter, 40, thanked with carnations those
who had helped her through the program. After 23 years addicted to cocaine,
crack and pills, Ritter says, she's a "walking miracle." Her son, Robert,
18, just moved in with her after being taken away from her at age 5.

Robert told those assembled in Circuit Judge Don Ash's courtroom for the
regular Drug Court meeting how proud he is of his mom.

"I tell everyone that our mothers should be our heroes," Ash said.

He said the program was aimed at stopping the "revolving door" of crime and
drug addiction.

"If you go into prison a drug addict, you're going to come out a drug
addict," Ash told those gathered at the county courthouse to watch the
graduation. "We give them the tools to turn their lives around."

Ash, who has a reputation as being tough in court, applies firm yet
positive reinforcement for those in the program. On Wednesday, two people
in the third and final phase of the program failed their drug tests. Ash
sentenced them to stints in jail and moved them a back to a previous phase
of the program. Such punishments vary according to the severity of a
participant's lapse.

"You're here not only for yourself, but for all these people," he said
pointing to the courtroom, which was filled with people at various stages
of the program.

Participants are encouraged to get their GEDs or begin college.

"As hard-working as you are and as smart as you are, (getting your GED) is
something you need to get done," Ash told a young man in the program who
works as a roofer. "You don't want to spend the rest of your life up on
that roof."

The success of the county's program also could help Ash, who has applied
for appointment to fill a state appellate court seat being vacated in
September.

Graduate Craig Harlan's recent promotion to manager of an automotive shop
was applauded by all in the courtroom. "If it wasn't for Drug Court, I
probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to be happy," said Harlan, 27.
"Now I have to opportunity to be the person that I want to be."