DRUG COURT
by Tom Mustin    

Tuesday, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee joined program and city officials in
announcing Mississippi’s first drug court. Nonviolent first or second time
drug offenders qualify for the program. which is geared toward
rehabilitating drug users. Offenders are required to complete an assessment
with a drug counselor, and remain on probation for a year following the
course. The court will be funded by a 399thousand dollar federal grant, as
well as tuition from the offenders.

Ridgeland Municipal Judge, Walter Wood, says these people need to be helped
instead of locked away. “Putting them in jail doesn’t work. The ultimate
goal is to reduce the crime rate and remove these people from the criminal
element.” Wood says strict screening will take place for each offender. The
program lasts 18 months, and will have an estimated 250 participants over
the next six months. Drug court will begin January 6th.

At the same time, Attorney General Mike Moore wants to get tougher on drug
offenders in the Delta. In a press conference Tuesday in Cleveland, Moore
said he wants accused drug dealers held without bond. The dealers he cited
were arrested this week in a threecounty sweep. Nineteen were arrested in
Bolivar County, 30 were arrested Monday in Washington County on cocaine or
marijuana charges and one person is charged in Suflower County. Moore also
urged potential jurors to hand down convictions in these cases.