FIVE COUNTIES TO GET FUNDS FOR DRUG COURTS

Drug courts will open in five Oklahoma counties and three other counties
will expand under new money the Legislature approved earlier this year.
More than $1.1 million in new money was approved for the 2004-05 fiscal
year, which started July 1.

Courts will open in Garfield, Stephens, Grady, Carter and Okmulgee
counties. Courts operating in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Comanche counties will be
expanded. Drug court costs average about $2,500 per person each year, state
Rep. Jari Askins, D-Duncan, said in a written statement. To send an
offender to prison costs about $17,000 each year.

Askins said drug-related offenders receive no addiction help while in
prison. "The drug courts are designed to assist anyone who truly wants help
in breaking their dependence on addictive substances," Askins said. Four of
the five counties receiving money to open courts were selected because each
sent 50 or more offenders to prison last year. Okmulgee County sent 32 to
state prison last year.

Tulsa County's operation is the state's largest, expanding from 210 to 280
treatment slots with the new money.

Oklahoma County's will grow from 130 treatment slots to 180. Comanche
County will increase from 10 to 35.