COURT THAT STEERS DRUG OFFENDERS TO TREATMENT LEFT OUT OF STATE BUDGET

OLYMPIA - An effort by legislators to expand a court program offering more
treatment to drug offenders may end up doing just the opposite.

Last week, lawmakers approved a measure to create more drug courts, programs
that steer drug offenders toward treatment rather than jail. But the budget
that passed the Legislature didn't include any new dollars earmarked for the
program.

That means that not only is there not enough money to create new drug
courts, but existing programs in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane also are in
jeopardy. Those programs are operating largely on federal grant money that
will run out within a year.

"None of us expected this," said Rep. Al O'Brien, co-chairman of the House
criminal-justice committee, who helped shepherd the bill through his
chamber.

Rather than earmark for the program the $2.5 million O'Brien was seeking,
the budget, written by Senate Democrats, included the money as part of the
state Department of Corrections' operating budget.

To pay for the drug-court program, corrections officials would have to cut
elsewhere, said Joe Lehman, department secretary.

"We're simply in the process of analyzing where we are," said Lehman, who is
working with legislators to find a way to pay for the program.

Rep. Ida Ballasiotes, co-chairwoman of the House crime committee, said she
hopes to find a solution during the special session the governor plans to
call next month.

"The thing is, the program works," said Ballasiotes, R-Mercer Island.

Regina LaBelle, a lobbyist for the Pierce County Alliance, said a Tacoma
drug-courts program will be cut in half this summer if new money can't be
found. That means five counselors at the alliance, which administers the
program, will be laid off, and 200 of the 400 clients will be sent away.

"This bill is certainly good and wonderful," LaBelle said. "But without the
money, it's meaningless."