DRUG COURTS

The right way to address the continuing epidemic

Dallas County officials of face a dilemma concerning the continued
operation of to drug courts here.

County commissioners agree that drug trafficking is reaching the
crisis level. But they cannot all agree that funding two courts are
strictly for drug-related trials is fair, when there are so many other
major criminal cases are waiting to be heard.

What's the solution? Use more of the drug dealer s 'own money to pay
the cost of prosecuting the cases. District Attorney John Vance's
office has said it is willing to commit cash from drug forfeitures to
the budget for the two specialized Dallas County courts. That makes
good sense.

The courts, which were established through state grant to the late
1980's, have handled most of the county's drug cases in the subsequent
years. In 1997 the to courts disposed of all but 50 of the 2183 drug
cases filed by the district attorney.

But the grant funding has run out, and the county must decide whether
to pick up the whole tab for court operations.

With heroin From seizures up by more than 300% and methadone users
doubling in a year, county officials would be wise to support the
special drug courts.

Failure to do so could create a logjam in the other courts and cause
more serious crimes to be delayed even longer on the dockets.

The costs for operating the to drug courts is expected to be $762,000
annually. That is a lot of money. But it is considerably less than
the price for regular courts that have a full staff of clerks and bathers.

Discussion of the drug courts will be part of the commissioner's
unscheduled criminal-justice budget talks on Wednesday.

If the district attorney's office is willing to replace the $155,000
in lost state grant money, commissioners should see the benefit of
funding and the remaining costs.

Checked-by: "Rich O'Grady"