An innovative drug treatment program for accused felons, credited with
helping relieve overcrowding in the Jefferson County jail, is at risk of
scaling back or folding unless county officials find money to keep it going.

White House drug chief Barry McCaffrey called attention to the Breaking the
Cycle program Tuesday during an appearance in Birmingham, the first city in
the nation to test the program.

McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and a
retired four-star general, said a federal grant that covered about 40
percent of the program's annual $1.1 million budget ended in June, putting
the burden on the county to find alternative sources of money.

During his visit to Birmingham, McCaffrey met with county officials,
including Bill Clark, chairman of the county's Criminal Justice Management
Committee and Joe Curtin, a representative of the Jefferson County Commission.

Foster Cook, director of substance abuse programs at the University of
Alabama at Birmingham, which administers Breaking the Cycle, said the
program is secure through the calendar year. After that "we'd have to cut
back unless we see more money," Cook said.

"We are in a transition period," Cook added. "We're looking for the county
to incorporate the things we are doing into its overall justice plan."

Curtin said the County Commission will consider making up at least part of
Breaking the Cycle's budget deficit for the next fiscal year. Other money
could come from the state and from court fees.

"I'm sure the county will be very receptive," Curtin said. "The county has
been funding these efforts all along at a certain level."

Breaking the Cycle, which has received $3.8 million in federal funds
including start-up costs, requires all accused felons in the county to
undergo drug testing within two days of arrest. Those who test positive are
steered into drug treatment in an attempt to break the link between drug
abuse and crime.

Nationwide, 85 percent of prisoners have chronic drugs and alcohol
problems, McCaffrey said. Most are behind bars not because of drug
possession, he said, but because they committed burglaries, assaults,
thefts and other crimes.

Cook said 67 percent of those charged with felonies in Jefferson County
test positive for drugs. After completing the program 97 which includes
treatment, education and rehabilitation 97 23 percent turn up positive
during routine random testing.

"Keep in mind that these are people who are not convicted yet," Cook said,
noting that they are usually free on bond and have access to drugs.

Since Breaking the Cycle began in Jefferson County, more than 72,447 drug
tests have been given and 6,652 people have been referred to treatment.
About 2,400 are currently active in the program.

Defendants who comply with the program qualify for alternative sentencing,
helping officials to reduce jail overcrowding.

Before Breaking the Cycle, the Jefferson County jail was "busting at the
seams" with 1,500 inmates, McCaffrey said. Today, he said, the census is
down to 1,100.

The program's success in Birmingham has led officials to copy it in
Jacksonville, Fla., Tacoma, Wash., and Eugene, Oregon.

"Drug use is a choice," McCaffrey said. "Addiction is not."