DRUG COURT CERTIFIED

After only a year in operation, the Eighth Judicial District Drug
Court is the first in the state to be certified under rules and
regulations established by the Mississippi Supreme Court, a welcomed
milestone for both the court's judge and coordinator.

"I'm very gratified that we have made the progress to be the first
Drug Court certified in the state and it has come about because of the
hard work of our coordinator Marcus Ellis," said Circuit Judge Vernon
Cotten.

The Eighth District Drug Court, reserved for first-time offenders who
have committed a felony that is drug related or drug driven,
officially began operations on Jan. 1, 2004, with the first
participants enrolled two months later. During its first year, more
than 50 individuals were screened with 35 currently enrolled.

"It is a chance for the first-time, non-violent drug offender, who is
not involved in the sale of drugs, to get the help he or she needs to
become a clean, sober and law-abiding citizen," Ellis said.

"This program is tough, lasting five years, and requires
accountability from the offender in that he or she must pay all
assessed fines and fees including rehabilitation costs, remain drug
and alcohol free, maintain employment and support their families."

Additionally, participants undergo a month-long in-patient
rehabilitation program, followed by weekly meetings with Judge Cotten,
weekly rehabilitation after-care meetings and at least two weekly
Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Drug Court participants are placed into a non-adjudicated status,
which means that failure to meet requirements of the program will
result in adjudication on their guilty plea and subsequent
incarceration.

As expected, there have been failures among a small number of
individuals enrolled in the program, officials said.

Two individuals have been adjudicated to eight years with the state
Department of Corrections; one has been sentenced to the Regimented
Inmate Discipline Program; and two are in extended rehabilitation and
recovery as a result of their extreme addiction problems but will
return to active participation in the drug court.

"The national average of recidivism for incarcerated persons is
approaching 70 percent; the national Drug Court average for recidivism
is 20 percent. Your Drug Court recidivism average is 0 percent and the
failure rate is less than 6 percent: not bad for our first year," Ellis said.

The Eighth Judicial Drug Court staff has attended and successfully
completed all sessions of the National Drug Court Planning Initiative;
created a policies and procedures manual; established a budget; and
furnished and equipped an office so that the anticipated enrollment of
125 persons can be facilitated, Ellis said.

The Drug Court staff will complete training this month on operation of
the Dade-Behring V-Twin Drug Analyzer which will provide a fast, safe
and legally sufficient means of drug testing not only Drug Court
participants but other individuals as required in support of law
enforcement.

Earlier this month, the regional Drug Court office moved into a new
location at 101 Pine St., just off the triangle in downtown Walnut
Grove in the Old Town Hall in Leake County. An open house is planned
for Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a formal ribbon cutting set at 4
p.m.

Ellis, who operated the court out of a corner in Judge Cotten's office
in Carthage for the first year, praised the Judge, the Drug Court
staff and its supporting "citizen team" for their hard work and commitment.

He said the success was due in large measures also to the outstanding
support of the citizens within the Eighth Judicial District, but most
especially "to the Board of Supervisors of each county for their
unfailing guidance, assistance and prayers."

The district is composed of Neshoba', Newton, Leake and Scott
counties.