LEAVITT TO INFUSE MORE MONEY INTO STATE 'DRUG COURT' PROGRAM

Governor To Use Part Of Utah's Share Of National Tobacco

SALT LAKE CITY -- The state of Utah is beefing up its innovative "drug
court" programs for convicted drug offenders by $1.3 million, Gov. Mike
Leavitt said Friday.

Using a portion of Utah's share of the national tobacco settlement, state
officials are expanding seven existing drug courts, including those in
Weber and Davis counties, and creating three new drug courts in Emery
County, Tooele County, and Cache/Rich/Box Elder counties.

The infusion will broaden the drug court concept to six of Utah's eight
judicial districts.

"I want to cut substance abuse in half among three populations: offenders,
public assistance recipients and youth," Leavitt said.

"One proven way to do this is drug courts."

In drug court, non-violent drug offenders are given the opportunity to
avoid prison if they enter intensive, court-supervised treatment programs.
Salt Lake County's Third Judicial District has graduated 171 offenders
since 1996, and only 13 have reverted to their old habits.

That record of achievement has saved thousands of dollars for Utah's
criminal justice system, officials said.

The 2000 Utah Legislature allocated money from the tobacco settlement to
various programs in state government, including drug courts.

With Friday's announcement, the Leavitt administration announced how the
drug court money would be distributed.

Sixteen drug courts around the state requested a total of $2.9 million,
which far exceeded the available amount.

In the Top of Utah, the First Judicial District serving Cache, Rich and Box
Elder counties received $125,000 for a new adult felony drug court and a
juvenile drug court.

The Second Judicial District in Davis County got $250,000 for its adult
felony drug court, and the Second Judicial District in Weber County
received $41,250.

The Weber program received less than others because it has also received a
federal grant.