COURT OFFICIALS UNVEIL NEW DRUG COURT PLAN

OTSEGO COUNTY - The 46th Circuit Trial Court unveiled plans for a drug
court to help alleviate overcrowding at the Otsego County Jail and to
rehabilitate hard drug users.

Chief Judge Patricia Morse and court administrator Rudi Edel, who
discussed the plan Tuesday night at the Citizens Jail Committee
meeting, indicated the program has a projected starting date of Jan.
2.

The drug court will operate as an alternative to jail and will provide
offenders an intensive period of support for a period of 18 months,
Morse said. The county prosecutor will make all referrals to the program.

Morse believes the drug court will fill a need and help alleviate
overcrowding at the jail.

"Many (drug abusers) want to get better, but they don't know how,"
Morse said. "They need a supportive group."

Morse told the committee the program will concentrate on hard drug
users.

"We are operating this on a shoestring," Morse said, "so we will focus
on hard drugs and not marijuana or alcohol. We may later add alcohol
as a target substance." The drug court will be operated mostly using
existing resources of the 46th Circuit Trial Court, but will seek
funding from the Office of Community Corrections for drug testing,
Morse said.

Otsego County Administrator John Burt added, "We hope to get funding
for drug tests, but there will be no new hires or funding for this
program."

Participants in the program will attend biweekly review hearings;
comply with court orders and probation; submit to random drug/alcohol
screens; attend treatment sessions as required by the court; maintain
a clean and sober lifestyle; and comply with all court orders
regarding payment of fines, costs, victim's fee and restitution,
according to tentative information on the drug court provided by Edel.

"The goal is to rehabilitate," Edel told the committee.

Edel said that the program particulars are still being finalized.