RATE OF FAILURE FAILS TO DETER HINDS DRUG COURT

Only Handful Pass Requirements, But Officials Not Giving Up

A mere 18 months ago, Latanya Johnson hit rock bottom.

The single mother found herself in handcuffs in the back of a police car,
charged with possession of crack cocaine.

Her son, now 9, was placed in a shelter after his mother was taken to jail.

Today, Johnson has renewed hope.

Her son is home. Johnson is working to earn a high-school equivalency
certificate. And she is determined to go to college.

Johnson, 38, is turning her life around through the Hinds County Drug Court
diversion program.

But few others have achieved her success. Of 24 people given the chance to
avoid jail by making it through the year-long program, three have stayed
the course and graduated. Overall, 70 people have been sent to the Hinds
County program, but some haven't put in the required time or met
requirements to graduate.

And some might say the price of success - or failure - is expensive. The
program that began in March 2000 has an annual operating cost of at least
$300,000.

The program's requirements, however, make it slow going for some offenders,
said program director Brenda Mathis.

The program includes General Educational Development classes, alcohol and
drug treatment, employment skills and job interviewing techniques,
employment referral, computer skills, family therapy and anger management.

The program was conceived as a year-long effort that seeks treatment over
incarceration. It calls for aftercare and followup. Participants have to
maintain employment unless they are disabled. Individuals selected for
placement in the program usually are those who have pleaded guilty to a
drug possession offense.

And last month, the special judge appointed to oversee the program resigned.

Still, "we haven't missed a beat," Mathis said.

The three graduates come back and help with the program, Mathis said. They
are subject to random drug testing as part of their probation. If they test
positive, it voids their probation and lands them in jail.

Circuit Court Judge Keith Starrett of McComb began the state's first drug
court in February 1999. Since its inception, 27 people have graduated from
the program. Another graduation of 10 to 15 people is scheduled for Dec.
17, according to program director Russanna Lindley.

A similar drug court program operates in Ridgeland Municipal Court.
Statistics on its graduates weren't available Friday.

Johnson was one of the first three people accepted into the Hinds County
program. She had an initial drug relapse, but was allowed a second chance
because she called a probation officer to come get her after she relapsed.

"I'm not ready to leave the program yet, but I'm looking forward to going
to college," Johnson said. She lacks passing one section of her GED test
before graduating from the Drug Court program.

Of the three offenders placed in the program when it was kicked off in
March 2000, two never made it. One had his sentence revoked and was sent to
prison. The other became a fugitive after walking away from the program.

Since then, 12 others have been discharged for violations, and six who
walked away now have bench warrants for their arrest, Mathis said.

Today, the program has 49 participants.

Johnson is one of two people who could soon graduate, Mathis said.

"We're progressing," Mathis said this week.

Johnson must get her GED certificate. Another person close to graduating
must first pay a $500 fine imposed by the Circuit Court, she said.

Most of the program's funding comes from the state. The Department of
Corrections provides a probation officer, and the Department of Mental
Health provides funds for administration and counselors to assist in
rehabilitation.

Hinds County provides two assistant district attorneys and two assistant
public defenders.

Mathis said it costs roughly $600 per inmate to go through the program. She
said it would cost roughly $25,000 a year to imprison the person.

The program now is under the direction of Circuit Court Judge Breland
Hilburn, who met earlier this week with the 49 participants. Such
conferences give Hilburn the opportunity to talk to the participants to see
how they are progressing and to hear their concerns.

Mississippi College School of Law professor and former prosecutor Patricia
Bennett resigned as the program's director after a state attorney general's
inquiry into her appointment.

State Rep. Walter Robinson, D-Bolton, filed an inquiry July 12 with the
attorney general's office citing several concerns about Bennett's
appointment, including that she lives in Madison County.

Robinson said there should have been a vote to choose a judge. Robinson
said he wasn't personally attacking Bennett, but was concerned about how
she was selected.

Bennett was appointed by Hilburn, who had presided over the program since
its start. Hilburn got approval from state Supreme Court Chief Justice
Edwin Pittman to appoint Bennett.

Hinds County Board of Supervisors President Charles Barbour said he
believes Hilburn will get results from the program.

"We have committed a large sum of money, and it's only fair to see
progress," Barbour said. "But it's not my position to interfere with court
matters."

Currently, the diversion program is only for drug offenders, mostly those
first-time offenders charged with possession of drugs.

But Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green said she'd like to see an
expanded program where other offenders, in addition to those who commit
drug-related crimes, can be sent to the Drug Court diversion program.

Green said many property crimes are the result of drug use, and some of
those charged would be better suited for the diversion program.

And Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson said one of her
initiatives is a program that will study alternatives to jail for
first-time offenders of other non-violent crimes.