SALINE COUNTY FINDS UNIQUE WAY TO DEAL WITH METH

HARRISBURG - About 40 miles east of Carbondale, a rural county filled with
rolling hills, endless farmland and nearly 25,000 people is dealing with
the meth epidemic, but in a new way.

Not only do the statewide worries and concerns linger through the four
communities of Saline County, but they also extend to the office and heart
of Saline County Circuit Court Judge Brockton Lockwood. His office is the
behind-the-scenes headquarters for the newly formed drug court in Saline
County.

According to Lockwood, the drug court is his way of attempting to deal with
the highly addictive and easily made drug known as meth. Holding up two
large posters of a meth user's before-and-after picture, Lockwood sighed
and explained his motivation for starting the drug court earlier this month.

"Users might feel good after taking meth, but it sucks the fat right out of
your body and the calcium from your teeth," Lockwood said, pointing to the
after picture of a once-attractive woman. "I decided we can't have these
people on the streets to produce more users and endanger the public."
Lockwood said the idea for a drug court stemmed from the rising number of
meth-related arrests in Saline County and the entire Southern Illinois
area. According to Saline County Assistant State's Attorney Lowell Tison,
the first meth-related arrest occurred in 1999 and within four years, the
number reached 200. This year, there have been more than 250 meth-related
arrests in the county, which include meth possession and manufacturing
arrests. He also said this number is extremely high for the county's low
population. In addition, he said more than 50 percent of all felony cases
in Saline County are meth-related.

Harrisburg, Eldorado, Galatia and Carrier Mills make up Saline County,
which is nearly half the size of Jackson County.

According to Saline County Sheriff Ed Miller, the department employs eight
road deputies and one deputy in charge of a private drug enforcement
agency. Jackson County Sheriff Robert Burns said the population of Jackson
County is close to 60,000. He also said the department employs 22 officers,
and the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group handles the drug enforcement.
According to reports from the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, there
were 31 meth-related cases in Jackson County in 2002. The following year,
the number nearly tripled. In addition, Jackson County officials reported
20 meth lab seizures in 2002 and 64 the following year. Burns said the
number of meth-related thefts, such as stolen anhydrous ammonia tanks or
manufacturing ingredients, are not included in these numbers. He also said
15 meth-related cases in Jackson County were referred to federal courts.

Lockwood said the drug court would provide repeat offenders a chance to
stay out of prison and hopefully kick the habit.

According to Lockwood, first-time offenders are charged and sentenced to
prison without the option of the drug court. Repeat offenders must prove to
Lockwood they should be eligible for drug court, as he has the final
decision. If offenders do convince the judge they are worth the effort and
time of the system, they will serve 30 days in jail and then spend an
additional 30 days in a treatment facility.

Once the 60 days are complete, Lockwood said the after-treatment begins,
which is the main factor in drug court.

The judge said the after-treatment consists of 30 months of heavily
supervised and restricted probation.

Those on probation are required to be drug tested three times a week, in
addition to random tests.

Even though Lockwood believes drug testing will help keep user relapses
down, he said the lack of money is a major concern.

According to Lockwood, drug tests cost $4.50 each, or $13.50 per week for
each drug court participant. He said two local police departments have
donated the drug tests to the program.

In addition, he said more staff is needed to help with the drug court. He
is hoping the program will receive a $30,000 state grant, which he applied
for. The judge said since the drug court is just getting started, he is
unsure of how much money would be needed, but did say the amount needed is
more than the department currently has.

According to Lockwood, there are four people currently in the drug court
and an additional 160 prospects for the program.

Lockwood said within a one-week period, 14 of his 15 preliminary hearings
involved meth.

"We've got it coming out of our ears here," Lockwood said. "We have a very
disturbing circumstance."

Lockwood said other cases involving drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and
heroin have been easier to deal with.

"We put them on probation and we never see them again," Lockwood said. "But
meth is different. I don't know of a case in the past three years where the
user has gotten off of meth."

According to Lockwood, if someone uses meth twice, they are seriously
addicted. He said his goal of drug court is to provide the community with
education on the dangers of meth and the potential legal issues that could
follow. Lockwood said if the drug court participant remains clean of meth
for 12 months, keeps employment and pays fines, they could be released
early. Once participants finish the 30 days in jail, 30 days of treatment
and the maximum of 30 months of probation, they will graduate from drug
court. Lockwood said he attended one drug court graduation ceremony in
Central Illinois for a former heroin addict.

"It was rather uplifting," Lockwood said. "There wasn't a dry eye in the
house." Lockwood said he is inspired by the large amount of support the
community has offered. He said in addition to Harrisburg High School
raising money for the drug court, local business owners are offering jobs
to drug court participants.

According to Lockwood, there are about one dozen drug courts in the state.
He hopes they form in every community in Southern Illinois to battle the
meth epidemic.

He said one of the main problems with enforcing meth is that most of the
ingredients used in meth manufacturing are legal until they are combined.
The judge said one woman was recently arrested on meth-related charges
because of the items she was purchasing from a local drug store. "This
woman asked for Sudafed and lithium batteries, and when the store clerk
asked her what size of batteries she needed, she said it didn't matter,"
Lockwood said. "Obviously, this is a sign of meth production. Meth just
makes you stupid."

Along with the worries and concerns Lockwood has for the community, he is
dealing with meth on a personal level.

"This is the first time I have had friends who are addicted to meth. I
don't normally know people who do drugs," Lockwood said. "We have to do
something, so we are going to try this and hope for the best."