LOCALS: DRUG COURTS SEEN AS BAD CHOICE FOR FUND CUTS

During 13 years of crack cocaine use and life on the street, Sheila Rouse
was in and out of jail and had little hope for the future.

Now, drug-free for nearly a year and full of optimism, the 38-year-old
Wilmington woman says she couldn't have succeeded without the help of New
Hanover County Drug Treatment Court.

Budget funding cuts approved last week by the state Senate mean others may
not get the same opportunity. Unless lawmakers in Raleigh step forward, the
program might be discontinued.

"That's going to hurt a lot of people. It shouldn't even be an idea," Ms.
Rouse said.

Proponents point to a much lower recidivism rate among individuals who
complete drug court treatment. They say there's also a strong economic
incentive to continue it statewide. Studies show it costs between $25,000
and $27,000 a year to keep someone in jail. The annual expense per person
of Drug Treatment Court is between $2,500 and $3,000.

"What people say the most when they graduate is, 'It saved my life,'?" said
Penny Craver, New Hanover County Drug Treatment Court coordinator.

The proposed Senate budget is "a disheartening blow," Ms. Craver said
Wednesday.

"Drug court is the most intensive form of supervision available outside of
prison," she said. "We help our clients develop a whole new lifestyle."

The program in New Hanover County began in 1996. Participants must want to
succeed, but the team-oriented approach gives them tools to work with, Ms.
Craver said.

Clients are supervised by a judge, assistant district attorney, defense
lawyer, probation officer, treatment officer and case manager. Each client
signs a 12-month Drug Treatment Court contract that stipulates conditions.
Those initially include bi-weekly court appearances, intensive outpatient
treatment, three weekly drug screens and a curfew.

"I'd rather deal with drug court than be on the street," Ms. Rouse said.
"I'm very grateful. You can have anything you want if you work hard
enough." Participants must be non-violent offenders and have no convictions
for weapons offenses or selling drugs.

While presiding over Drug Treatment Court the past three years, District
Court Judge James Faison III has witnessed many success stories.

"The Drug Treatment Court program is definitely a life-saver," Judge Faison
said. "We've seen people who have been on drugs 25 or 30 years spend one
year in our program and basically achieve a drug-free lifestyle."

Many graduates find jobs and become productive citizens, he said.

"There's a tremendous savings to taxpayers, and it helps to reduce the
criminal caseload in the standard criminal courts," Judge Faison said. "It
results in the best use of the resources that are available."

The Senate proposes to raise court fees to the public, but take the
proceeds and put them into the budget general fund.

"It eliminates all funding that comes to the Administrative Office of the
Courts for drug treatment," said Gregg Stahl, AOC senior deputy director.

"We've had some lean budget years and making the successful transition from
federal to state funds has been near-impossible," he said. "The House has
not taken up the Senate's budget yet, so we hope that the House will
recognize the benefits of drug court."

Family Court cuts are also included in the proposed budget. Adult Drug
Treatment Courts currently operate in 13 judicial districts statewide. New
Hanover is the only county in the region to have one.

Residents of other local counties must move to New Hanover County to
participate.

"I was originally not an advocate, but the more I see and hear, it
works," said Chief District Court Judge John J. Carroll III. "It seems to
help the people who want to be helped. There is actually something they can
do to treat their addiction."

There are few other alternatives to prison, Ms. Craver said.

"Most of our clients have been involved in the criminal justice system for
a number of years and for a lot of them, it's their last chance," she said.

Charlie Maultsby, a drug court graduate who has not used cocaine in nearly
three years, said he is thankful for the chance to attend.

Like Ms. Rouse, he was convicted of drug possession.

Mr. Maultsby, 54, said he can't understand why the state would pull the
plug on the program.

"If definitely helped me. I saw it do a lot for a lot of people," he said.
"It's 100 percent more effective than putting people on minimum probation.
To me, it's not even feasible why the government would do something like that."

For more information on New Hanover County Drug Treatment Court, call
341-1501 or 341-1502.