CHRISTMAS BONUS FROM DRUG COURT

Generosity sometimes comes from the most unlikely direction. That was
certainly the case this week when the people who are enrolled in Pike
County drug court held a party to present gifts to two needy families.

Participants in the drug court, which is run by Circuit Judge Keith
Starrett in Pike, Walthall and Lincoln counties, raised $600 in cash
plus toys, clothing and canned food. Led by two women, Crystal Pigott
and Sherry Driscoll, the participants found two single parents, one
raising a daughter, the other raising two children, and made their
Christmas a whole lot merrier than it would have been otherwise.

Pigott, Driscoll and the other drug court participants who helped put
this holiday celebration together may not understand the importance of
what they've done for these families - not to mention the rest of the
public, whose tax dollars pay the cost of drug court.

For starters, they gave of themselves willingly. Instead of being
forced to obey a court order or the terms of a plea bargain, these
folks took it upon themselves to adopt the families even though they
were not required to do anything of the sort.

This is an important step on the road to breaking the hold that drugs
and alcohol once had on them. This sort of giving, which in this case
produced wonderful results, can also be an important boost to the
self-esteem of the drug court participants, who will need to be more
satisfied with themselves if they are ever to get their lives back in
order.

Finally, it's a quiet signal to the public that there are many
benefits to alternative punishments like drug courts. If the two women
who organized the help were in prison for their crimes instead of
being monitored by the drug court, no family would have been
interested in receiving gifts from them at Christmas.

It's easy to put down people who have to get into a drug court to stay
out of jail. They've caused some serious trouble. They're a big part
of a big problem we face as a community.

This little Christmas bonus from the drug court means that at least
some of the people in the program are trying to do right, to atone for
their mistakes. It's a heartening sign.

By putting together some money and gifts for two needy families, the
drug court participants accomplished a lot. They helped the families,
they brought the drug court program some invaluable publicity, and
most of all they helped themselves. Those are three impressive, and
valuable, achievements.