SPECIAL COURTS GET ATTENTION

After more than 10 years of idleness, the Montgomery County Community
Corrections Authority is finally gearing up to bring some alternative court
programs to the Capital City.

The Authority is meeting on July 18 to finalize plans for programs designed
to divert offenders from the overcrowded jail and prison systems while
collecting more in outstanding debts owed to the financially-strapped court
system.

"I really think there is the momentum to get something going this time,"
said Sheriff D.T. Marshall, one of seven Authority board members.

Created after the state Legislature passed the Community Corrections Act in
1991, the Authority floundered because board members, judges and others
involved in the court system could never agree on which programs to put in
place.

Meanwhile, other cities such as Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville
established programs that have proven to be very successful, said Allen
Tapley, director of the Alabama Sentencing Institute, which oversees
community corrections operations.

"Montgomery is the only urban judicial circuit in the state that doesn't
have a working community corrections program," Tapley said. "Even Anniston
and Gadsden have started small programs."

Community corrections entails a variety of court-related programs that give
nonviolent offenders the opportunity to serve their sentences and get
treatment for addictions close to home rather than being sent to jail or
prison. This allows them to find or keep jobs, which means they continue to
support their families while paying court costs and restitution to victims.

Typical programs include drug court, work release, pre-trial release,
community service and supervised parole.

Montgomery County is looking at establishing three initial programs, Tapley
said. Pre-trial release allows defendants who can't make bond to go to work
while they await their trials. The county probation program would work to
collect money owed to district court by keeping closer tabs on those put on
probation. The community service program would coordinate the carrying out
of sentences of those assigned to do work around the county.

Drug court, which has been operating in district court, will be folded into
community corrections on the circuit court level, Tapley said.

A director and about six employees, along with office space, will be needed
to get the program started, Tapley said, estimating it will take about
$300,000. The Montgomery County Commission will be asked to fund the measure.

After the program is running, about 30 percent of its annual cost will be
come from fees paid by offenders who participate, he said.

If the initial programs are successful, others may be added in the future.
Montgomery County Court Administrator Bob Merrill said community
corrections options are needed.

"The main thing is to give the courts more flexibility in sentencing,
rather than just the knee-jerk send them to jail," Merrill said. "Some
people, obviously, need to go to jail. We just have to make sure we have
enough room for those who need to be there."