SUBSTANCE ABUSERS COULD HELP USERS

If Sarasota County Commissioner Shannon Staub has her way, anyone
convicted of a drug-or alcohol-related infraction may soon pay an
extra fine, which would go into programs designed to address those
problems.

Staub said the fine -- mandated in a new ordinance -- would be very
useful in this time of countywide budget cuts.

"A large percentage of our convictions come from alcohol- and
drug-related infractions, such as DUI and so on," Staub said. "This
fee would come on top of what they would have to pay, serving as
another source of income to programs that would provide treatment,
such as First Step of Sarasota."

First Step, a nonprofit program, has provided substance abuse
treatment and recovery programs on Florida's Gulf Coast for many years.

Clifford Klaus, an in-house attorney for First Step, started the ball
rolling on the ordinance when he learned West Palm Beach already had
one in place.

"I then did a random check and found in every county that I looked at
- -- Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas, for example -- such an
ordinance had been passed," Klaus said. "It's fitting that some of the
burden of the cost for treatment of this disease -- and it is a
disease -- fall back on those people who have contributed to the issue
or are suffering from it and have committed crimes."

Klaus presented the idea to Chief Judge Lee Haworth of the 12th
Judicial Circuit, which serves Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.
Haworth is also head of the Criminal Justice Commission.

Removing the burden

Staub said Haworth liked the idea.

"There is a Florida state statute that allows for additional fees to
be placed on the regular fee that somebody has to pay for alcohol and
drug abuse," Staub said. "And there is a specific law that says you
can do a $15 fine and $14 goes into a county drug and alcohol abuse
trust fund. That money then can be used for rehabilitation. The other
dollar goes to the clerk of the court for processing."

Klaus said the ordinance could allow for the collection of much more
than $15 per case -- depending upon the severity of the crime and the
ability of the convicted party to pay.

"The $15 would be a mandatory court cost associated with
misdemeanors," Klaus said. "In more severe cases -- such as drug
dealing, for example -- the court could order a higher, discretionary
fine which would go into the trust fund."

Once money is placed into the trust fund, the county would then
disperse it to nongovernmental organizations providing drug and
alcohol treatment or education, Klaus added.

"This would take some of the burden off the general public, who has to
support these things," Klaus said, adding that Haworth has already
sent a recommendation to County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh to fashion a
draft ordinance for the county commissioners to consider.

"I will bring it up at the next board meeting," Staub said.