CHESTERFIELD DRUG COURT OFFERS TREATMENT INSTEAD OF JAIL

CHERAW - Criminal defendants with drug addictions in Chesterfield
County soon will have the opportunity to get their legal and
substance abuse problems resolved.

The Chesterfield County Drug Court, established through state
government funds, will be operated through the 4th Judicial Circuit
Solicitor's Office.

Authorities are calling the addition a watershed moment in the
system's handling of nonviolent offenders.

At a press conference in Cheraw on Wednesday, Sen. Vincent Sheheen,
D-Kershaw, said implementation of the program "truly marks a shift in
the way that we fight the drug problem in this area."

"We are now willing to make that shift ... putting dollars not only
toward incarceration, but also treatment," he said. "We've got a
choice to make - to keep doing things the way we've been doing or
make a change ..."

Sheheen's home county of Kershaw has had its own version of drug
court in place for almost a decade. Besides a low recidivism rate,
the program also has made sense fiscally.

The program will save taxpayers plenty of money in the short term -
"us spending tax dollars to feed and house inmates" - as well as the
long term, in overall contributions to society, Sheheen said.

"It will also have a tremendous impact in the lives of the people of
this community," Sheheen said.

The state has earmarked $150,000 for formation of the drug court,
enabling Chesterfield County to join the half-dozen or so counties
with the intervention tool in place.

The program, designed to provide training and treatment, especially
will give young offenders a chance at a turnaround, said Rep. Ted
Vick, D-Chesterfield. "Drug problems transcend all races, ages and
backgrounds," he said, but "there's lot of young folks sitting in
jail serving unproductive time ... and are still coming out a menace
to society."

Following the post-plea drug court model, defendants will enter a
plea of guilty before a judge, who will refer the individual to the drug court.

Upon completion of the program, the charges against the defendant
will be dismissed. Those charges don't specifically have to be drug
offenses. But most will be drug-related in nature, in terms of the
accused's dependency, Hodge said.

"We're looking for addicts - people who have a problem and will go
out and break the law to support the problem," the solicitor said.

The advent of the court is slated for August or September.
Authorities are clear on who possible candidates, expected to
participate for at least a year, will be.

"We're looking for those young people who have a desire to do better,
those who want help," said Hodge, adding that the process requires "a
lot of hands-on treatment.

"It's pretty much expected of members of a drug court to fail
initially. That's where our judge comes in and takes action -
incarcerating them for however long - to let them know that we mean
business," the solicitor said.