NEW DRUG COURT: RECOVERY OR JAIL?

FIRST THREE INMATES IN HINDS PROGRAM CHOOSE TREATMENT

RAYMOND — Benjamin Hennington risked eight years in a jail cell and
$50,000 over a bag containing crack cocaine.

But when Hennington, 20, pleaded guilty Friday to possession of crack,
he didn't get prison time. What he got was drug treatment and a chance
to keep a felony conviction off his record.

Hennington was one of the first three inmates placed in Hinds County's
new drug court diversion program for mostly first-time, nonviolent
offenders. The program seeks treatment over incarceration for those
with a drug problem.

"It's up to you," Hinds County Circuit Judge L. Breland Hilburn told
Hennington and the two others placed in the program. "The court really
wants to help you with your drug problem, but the court is not going
to be very friendly to those who use the program just to try to get
out of the Detention Center."

In the courtroom at the Hinds County Detention Center here, Hennington
told Hilburn he understood and wanted the program.

"I want to make a change in my life," Hennington said.

Hennington was arrested Aug. 15, 1999, by Jackson police at a
nightclub on Medgar Evers Boulevard. Officers were inside the bar when
they saw Hennington smoking a cigar containing what they believed to
be marijuana. Once they stopped him, he dropped a bag with a small
amount of crack cocaine.

Instead of jail time, Hennington will get two years of supervised
probation, drug treatment at Victory Manor Recovery Center in Clinton
for 120 days, and aftercare to be determined by Drug Court Treatment
Program director Brenda Mathis.

Also, Hennington will have to pay a $500 fine over the course of his
two years of probation and will have to undergo drug screening twice
weekly by Mississippi Department of Corrections Probation Officer Ted
Rogers.

The other two inmates, Kevin Gibbons, 38, and Latanya Johnson, 37,
both of Jackson, had similar stipulations placed upon them for entry
into the program.

Johnson will attend New Life for Women Inc. of Jackson treatment
program for 60 to 90 days and then an after-care program through the
drug court.

Johnson was arrested Oct. 4, 1999, on a drug possession charge after
Jackson police observed what appeared to be a drug transaction near
J.R. Lynch Street and Redmond Alley. Individuals involved in the
transaction ran into a house. Police entered and found Johnson and
another individual sitting in front of crack cocaine.

Gibbons was arrested March 14, 1999, after Jackson police officers
observed his vehicle without a headlight. Once he was stopped, he
appeared to be intoxicated. Officers found two rocks of crack cocaine
in his pocket.

Gibbons will also spend 120 days at Victory Manor.

Mathis said the advantage of the program is it offers treatment to
those who really want to get help for drug problems.

"We hope they get their lives straight and get a job and won't come
back into the system," Mathis said.

Rogers calls it a kinder and gentler approach to drug
offenders.

"It will give them a second chance, but you will have some who don't
succeed," Rogers said.

Hilburn had a stern warning for Johnson, Gibbons and Hennington: If
they violate the terms of the agreement placing them in the program,
they will be returned to jail to face up to eight years in prison and
the $50,000 fine.

"The bottom line is that it will be up to you," Hilburn said. "The
court is going to do everything to help you."

Mathis said she will meet once a week with the participants and Rogers
will oversee their conduct in the program.

Hilburn said Mathis and Rogers are the court's representatives and the
individuals must adhere to their directions.

The district attorney's office in consultation with the defendant's
attorney and Mathis will make recommendations to Hilburn on those
eligible for the program. Hilburn has the final decision.

The special court will target felony drug cases for offenders ages 17
and older. It's an arm of the regular hardcore drug court that seeks
speedy disposition to send violators to prisons.

State Rep. Alyce Clarke, D-Jackson, spearheaded the project to get a
treatment-based drug court and worked on it for about four years.