18 GRADUATE FROM DRUG COURT PROGRAM

Eighteen men and women graduated from the 15th Judicial Drug Court in
May.

The graduation ceremony took place on the Pearl River Community
College Campus.

This was the court's first graduation since it was established by
Circuit Judge Prentiss Harrell in 2007.

"With our five-county district, we have a population with a tremendous
need for the drug court," Harrell said. "This program allows men and
women to put their lives back together again, making this program a
great success and impacting our communities and their families."

Like the other 2,400 operational drug courts in the United States, the
15th Judicial District Circuit Court hears cases of offenders charged
with drug-related crimes.

Drug courts relieve already overwhelmed court dockets by placing
offenders in a structured environment where they undergo treatment and
counseling, submit to frequent and random drug testing, make regular
appearances before the judge, and are monitored closely.

Graduate Phil Bilbo said drug court played a positive role in his
life.

"Drug court has offered me an avenue to correct my destructive path of
addiction," he said. "And sometimes when people are given a second
chance in life, they can make the best out of the opportunity."

The 15th Judicial District Place 2 Drug Court serves a five-county
area: Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion and Pearl River counties.