DRUG COURT

State lawmakers endorsed a plan to use a federal law enforcement grant to
expand the state's "drug court" program, establish a state police computer
crimes unit, and improve the state's witness protection program. In all,
the state will use $6.5 million from the federal Drug Control and System
Improvement Block Grant, and $2.1 million in matching state money for a
host of law enforcement programs.

Lawmakers from the legislature's budget, public safety and judiciary
committees voted Wednesday to earmark the money for the programs. The
state's share will be included in the 1999-2000 state budget, said Sen.
Joseph J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, co-chairman of the budget-writing
appropriations panel.

Nearly $2 million will be used to pay for prosecutors, case workers and
other personnel at the state's drug courts in Hartford, New Haven,
Bridgeport and Waterbury. In those courts, non-violent offenders are kept
out of prison, but get intense supervision and treatment.

About $260,000 will be used to establish a state police unit that will
focus on crimes done by computer, including drug trafficking, gambling,
money laundering and child pornography. And $50,000 will be used for a
witness training program for prosecutors and to publish educational
materials for witnesses to crimes.