DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROVIDES GRANT TO DRUG COURT

The 11th Circuit Drug Court will receive a $450,000 U.S. Department of
Justice grant.

The 11th Circuit includes Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica counties.
Eleven participants from Bolivar and Coahoma counties are already enrolled
in Drug Court. The program started a year ago.

The three-year grant, which is provided by the Department of Justice Office
of Justice Programs, began Sept. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, 2007. Court
officials received notice of the grant award Wednesday.

The 11th Circuit Drug Court has previously operated entirely with volunteers
and no budget, said Court Administrator Becky Cochran. Participants meet
once every two weeks with Circuit Court Judge Larry O. Lewis. Volunteers
handle the drug testing and monitoring of participants.

Said Cochran: "We will be able to expand our program. We will be able to
have a case manager that will allow for closer monitoring of the
participants. It will allow us to pay for some treatment costs, which will
get the participants into treatment faster."