REPEAT DRUG FELONS TO GET CARE INSTEAD OF JAIL TIME

BSO To Run Expanded Court Treatment Program

Second- and third-time drug felons will get outpatient treatment in a
highly successful program instead of going to jail now that the Broward
Sheriff's Office has taken over the county's Drug Court Treatment Program.

County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to transfer the nationally
recognized program, now under the direction of the county staff, to the
sheriff's office. BSO made a proposal to expand the program, which now
offers outpatient treatment to first-time drug offenders, to second- and
third-time, nonviolent felons. The program is highly successful, with an
estimated 90 percent of offenders staying off drugs.

Sheriff Ken Jenne said the program would save county taxpayers thousands of
dollars. The treatment program costs $3,000 per year while a year in jail
costs $30,000 per prisoner. In addition, the expansion is expected to
relieve chronic crowding at the jail.

BSO will also take over a 26-bed in-jail drug treatment program called
Alternative Treatment Against Crack Cocaine, which will be transferred from
the Fort Lauderdale city jail to the Broward County Jail.

Currently, about 800 first-time drug felons are treated in the outpatient
program, which has about 19 counselors and a budget of $1.4 million. Jenne
plans to expand the program to 400 second- and third-time, nonviolent
felons, hiring 11 more counselors. The expansion will cost about $300,000,
funded with grants or county funds.

Jenne emphasized that the felons admitted into the program would be
nonviolent.

``The last thing we'd want to do is let violent criminals out,'' he said,
adding that drug felons would be placed in the program ``depending on what
they were arrested for.''

``The program is working,'' he said. ``The reason the state attorney's
office and I support this is because the recidivism rate is so low. If it
isn't as low for the second- and third-time felons, we will reassess this.''

The audience exploded into applause, cheers and hugs after commissioners
approved the transfer. Broward Circuit Judge Melanie May, who presides over
drug court, the Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse, the Broward
state attorney's office, the public defender's office and the Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Advisory Board all were in favor of the switch.

``The County Commission absolutely made the right decision,'' said May.
``We're very excited about the opportunity to expand the program. This is
one giant leap for drug court.''

May approached Jenne to take over the program almost a year ago. She
clashed with program directors and criticized the way the program was run
under the county's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Division.

Among her objections: The program went without appropriate urinalysis for 2
1/2 months because of a contract dispute; she had to contact the director
on three occasions to gain his approval of an application to be a mentor
court and had to personally prepare the application; and that the drug
treatment program had less than half as many staff members as was necessary.

``The administrative staff seeks to hold onto the Drug Court,'' May wrote
in a letter to County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger. ``Their position
attempts to thwart the one move that will not only save, but enhance the
program.''

Michael De Lucca, director of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Division,
made a counterproposal: transfer the ATACC program to BSO but leave the
drug treatment program to the county and have BSO transfer five new
counselors to allow for the expansion.

County Commissioner Lori Parrish, who at first voted against the transfer
but then changed her vote, said she had slight concerns about a law
enforcement agency rather than a social service agency operating the program.

County commissioners sensed a power struggle between the two government
bodies.

``I believe there's a bit of a spraying contest today,'' said Parrish.

Echoed Commissioner Norm Abramowitz: ``I get the feeling there's a
controversy between the county and BSO and I hope that's not true.''

``Certainly the sheriff's going to do things better than us,'' said
Commissioner John Rodstrom.''

The transfer is expected to take place Oct. 1, said Guy Wheeler, director
of the drug treatment program. Jenne said he hopes to retain current staff
members.