DRUG COURT

A drug court, as proposed by Circuit Judge Vernon Cotten, will save
tax dollars and, more importantly, lives.

Participants agree to plead guilty, are indicted and sentenced to
treatment and rehabilitation that includes having a job, even if that
means sweeping a public sidewalk. The alternative - no questions asked
- - is prison.

Noel McElroy faced at least four years in prison after being arrested
in Jackson with crystal meth, Scott M. Larson of the Hattiesburg
American reported in February.

McElroy is sober now and owns his own sheetrock business, thanks to a
drug court like the one judge Cotten is proposing.

"If drug court wasn't around, I'd probably be in prison, dead or still
drunk," said McElroy, whose drug of choice was alcohol.

Through a drug court, McElroy was given the opportunity to either get
into treatment or go to prison.

"Basically it really saved my life. It gave me a chance to learn about
how to stay sober and about my addiction as an alcoholic without going
to prison," McElroy said.

Drug courts are not a hug-a-thug, soft on crime, touchy-feely
alternative, to be sure. Prosecutors and law enforcement are consulted
about who may be referred to the program and can reject applicants and
pursue full prosecution.

Drug sellers, drug dealers and violent offenders are not
eligible.

Gov.-elect Haley Barbour is already facing a projected $70 million
deficit in the state Department of Corrections.

Mississippi can't afford the prisoners it has, much less the
additional 700 that are projected to be sentenced by 2005.

Drug courts, already operational in 10 judicial districts, are an
effective alternative for the non-violent offenders and would cost
taxpayers less.

A State Auditor's report estimated that Mississippi could save about
$5.4 million dollars annually based on 500 participants going into a
statewide drug court system instead of being housed in the state
Department of Corrections, a highly conservative estimate, State
Auditor Phil Bryant admits.

More than 300 regional leaders gathered here last week to hear the
drug court proposal explained, including Bryant and the chief justice
of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Edwin Lloyd Pittman, both ardent
supporters.

Choctaw Indian Tribal Chief Phillip Martin, who hosted the event at
the Pearl River Resort, has voiced his public support.

Philadelphia and Neshoba County elected leaders along with law
enforcement and others were on hand.

Judge Cotten hopes to have the drug court up and running by January,
and we should do everything possible to help him.

The drug court is projected to cost $170,000 and would ideally be
funded by the four counties that are part of the 8th Judicial
District, Leake, Scott, Neshoba and Newton.

Many of the more than 300 attendees greeted Cotten after the formal
presentation and they were in essence telling him: "There has been a
great need for change and this seems like the time for change and this
seems to be the best hope," he said afterwards.

Four out of five felony crimes in Mississippi are a result of drug and
alcohol addiction, officials have said, and we know all too well what
drugs and booze are doing to this community.

Violent offenders must be put away, but addiction is not cured by
prison, and judge Cotten has recognized that from the bench.

Gov.-elect Barbour wants to employ some faith-based rehabilitation
initiatives and we would support those efforts, too, because
ultimately it's the heart that must change.

Judge Cotten is passionately committed to the drug court and has vowed
to take on the enormous workload personally.

Neshoba County could take the lead and assist Cotten with a jobs
placement program and other aspects, for example.

With the community policing efforts under way here and a focus in the
public schools on at-risk students, adding a drug court will no doubt
lead to effectual change in society, which we all realize must occur.

We wholeheartedly and without reservation support judge Cotten's drug court
and we hope that others will as well.