PERRILLOUX ANTICIPATES FIGHTING DRUGS WITH SHERIFF

AMITE - The new year will bring changes and challenges for his office, said
21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. A new sheriff, a
significant change in the drug enforcement laws, more jury trials and
possibly a new multi-parish project to fight illegal drugs are part of the
focus this year, he said. A local limited-scope crime lab, possibly
connected to Southeastern Louisiana University, could be a significant help
in combating illegal drugs and the misery they cause, Perrilloux said
during a review of the year past and a look ahead to the next year.

"I think a good long-range goal for either the Sheriff's Department and/or
the DA's office in this district would be the creation of some sort of
crime lab for the 21st Judicial District or even the North Shore to include
the 22nd," he said. A backlog at the state Crime Lab, especially last year
in the Baton Rouge serial killer cases, presents problems. "We experience
delays in prosecution of our drug cases because the Crime Lab is not able
to analyze the evidence seized from accused individuals and determine
whether or not it's drugs and what drug it is - which is a primary,
indispensable part of your case," Perrilloux said.

Crystal methamphetamine is the latest and largest threat since crack
cocaine and recent changes in the law will help prosecute offenders,
Perrilloux said. "It's a very good change in that now we can prosecute
individuals for having the primary components to manufacture and produce
where before that was a problem in the law," he said. "The law did provide
for it to be a violation when certain precursors where in an individual's
possession, but the law had never been updated to address the way meth is
produced." The drug is cheap to produce and very addictive, and it produces
both aggression and paranoia "which is not a good combination," Perrilloux
commented. In some areas of the nation, crystal meth is reportedly produced
by organized gangs. That is not the case here, Perrilloux said. "I don't
think we have any meth cartels or organized efforts to ship and produce
meth. I think it's an individual problem. But I think that group of
individuals probably has a pretty good network and that's how they learn to
make it and educate others to produce it," Perrilloux said. Meth producers
range in age from 25 to 60 and use what they produce, he said. Family
members suffer as they watch users disintegrate into addiction.

A problem he shares with the Tangipahoa Parish coroner daily is when family
members of those who have drug and mental problems come to them for help in
getting treatment. As it stands now, a drug user with mental problems can
be turned away from mental health care because of the drug problem and can
be turned away from drug rehabilitation because of the mental problems, he
said. "I think that is an area where there can be more resources
available," Perrilloux said. "Lots of questions and not many answers are
available in that area. It's a sad problem."

Daniel Edwards will take over as the new Tangipahoa Parish sheriff in July,
and Perrilloux said he is optimistic about working with Edwards, a former
assistant district attorney under both Perrilloux and his predecessor,
Duncan Kemp. "Anytime there's a change in administration in a major office
like the sheriff's department, I think, with the rest of the public, I'm
expecting some new energy and enthusiasm. And that can't be anything but
positive," Perrilloux said. He's going to do fine."

A change in momentum is under way in Perrilloux's own office. The number of
jury trials has risen to 30 so far this year, including 10 murder trials.
The number last year dropped to 17. "I still feel like we have some
improvement we can do," he said. "There are a lot of elements in jury
trials, not all of which we can control. We need to keep increasing those
numbers." Currently the office has 19 assistant district attorneys.
Perrilloux said he does not expect to increase his staff during the coming
year. His office may be squeezed somewhat in a controversy in St. Helena
Parish over a proposed landfill and the lawsuit aimed at stopping it.
Perrilloux's office represents the St. Helena Police Jury, which approved
the landfill deal and is now being sued over the process. What is his
stance? "Two landfills in the 21st Judicial District is enough," he said,
adding, "We are obligated to defend the police jury."

Courthouse space will continue to be an issue both in Tangipahoa and
Livingston parishes next year. Perrilloux quipped that he's afraid to visit
the new, spacious courthouse in St. Tammany Parish for fear he might not
come back. Livingston Parish officials purchased some land for a new
courthouse last year, but so far no new building has materialized. "With
new administration doing a new, hard look at the budget with a pledge to be
aggressive and progressive toward more programs and facilities, I think
there's hope there," he said. The proposal in Tangipahoa Parish to use the
vacated School Board building for more courthouse space won't solve the
problem, he said. "I think it will help. I don't know how functional the
building is or can be in its current state," he said. " ... Possibly a
bulldozer and a bunch of dump trucks might be the answer for it."