DRUG COURT DETAILS

Jefferson County Judge Pete Johnson started drug court in 1996 after he
grew frustrated by repeatedly seeing the same people in his district court
on drug charges. Nearly two-thirds of Jefferson County defendants facing
felony charges test positive for drugs at their arrest.

Drug court seeks to attack the main problem that leads to crime an
offender's drug addiction.

Only nonviolent offenders are eligible for drug court. Defendants whose
records indicate they could be dope sellers or traffickers, and those
arrested with guns in their possession cannot apply. Participants'
convictions are set aside upon completion of the program.

The prosecutor and probation officer research a defendant's criminal
history before suggesting drug court. Police officers must agree to a
defendant's drug court enrollment.

Drug court participants must pay $80 $20 for jail and $60 for an hour with
a court-appointed lawyer for every night they spend in jail for violating
the program.

Defendants pay $1,500 to help cover program costs; undergo regular and
sometimes surprise drug tests; attend narcotics support meetings; have
constant contact with drug court case managers; and do 100 hours in
community service. For those without a job and community service, the court
sees to it that they get one. High school dropouts are required to take GED
classes.

Drug court participants have paid nearly $1.9 million in fees to fund the
program since its inception.