DRUG TASK FORCE SUGGESTED FOR CHESTER, LANCASTER

CHESTER - Creating a multijurisdictional drug task force was one idea from
brainstorming session Thursday among law enforcement leaders and 6th
Circuit Solicitor John Justice.

"A lot of good information came out of it," said Chester County Sheriff
Robby Benson. "Nothing's set in stone, but we'll be meeting with other
sheriffs."

While the task force is just an idea for now, it's a start.

The 6th Circuit Court - which covers Chester, Lancaster and Fairfield
counties - is considered to have one of the worst backlogs of cases in the
states. In many cases, years may pass from the time a suspect is arrested
and charged to when the crime is tried before a judge. The meeting was
aimed at figuring out how to get cases to court quicker.

Benson attended the meeting along with Lancaster Chief Hugh White, Chester
Chief Anthony Staten and Fort Lawn Chief Richard Smith. Fairfield County
Sheriff Herman Young also attended.

Justice could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Some of the ideas discussed included searching for more grant money. A drug
court, possibly targeting juveniles, was also discussed.

On Wednesday, Justice said his feelings were mixed on drug courts, which
offer rehabilitation for users, not prosecution of dealers.

"If I had to choose between rehabilitation and more prosecution, I'd take
prosecution money first," Justice said.

Benson said he plans to review many old cases to see whether they can still
be prosecuted. He said he hopes to work closely with the solicitor's office
to process a good case quickly, and he said he is interested in having more
cases pushed through every time they have court, regardless of location.

That means a Chester drug case could be tried in Lancaster County or a
Fairfield case in Chester, instead of waiting on a case for the next time a
judge comes to town.

But Justice said Wednesday that more court time and more money are needed
in order to see a serious change in the three rural counties.