DRUG COURT IS MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

I had the privilege of sitting in recently in one of the Jackson County
Drug Court sessions, and I am amazed at the job that Judge Jackson, Jo Ann
Byrd and the other Drug Court team members are doing.

Jackson County, I urge you to support this program. There are businesses
and corporations that are more than able to donate funding to this program,
especially so that these Drug Court team members can attend conferences and
meetings held by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. It
costs room, meals and registration fees, but, as a former member of this
organization, I know that you can't place a dollar figure on the knowledge
these members will bring back with them.

I challenge Jackson County to support this Drug Court. Are you going to let
George and Greene counties outdo you? You will not realize how important
this Drug Court is until one of your family or friends is involved. Then
you will appreciate their opportunity to participate in the Drug Court
program instead of spending time in jail, at great cost to the taxpayers,
and where they do not receive the rehabilitation they need.

Drug Court allows the participant to keep/get a job, an education,
rehabilitation and be at home with their family/children. Someone else is
not having to take care of their family. It makes them responsible. As a
community, we need to give them a second chance. We've all made mistakes in
our past, but let's allow them to move forward, putting the past behind.

There's another advantage to hiring a participant in the Drug Court
program: They're tested two or three times a week for drugs, so you know
they're not using. Are you that sure about your other employees?

DONNA GARNER
Pascagoula