PROGRAM HELPS CLEAR UP CASES IN COUNTY DRUG COURT

Judge Allen Millican had sentenced people on crystal methamphetamine drug
charges before, but he did not realize just how crucial getting the person
to court so quickly could be - until he heard from addicts at a symposium
sponsored by federal agencies.

Millican, in his third year as an Etowah County Circuit Court judge, and
Deputy District Attorney Jimmie Harp, who prosecutes the majority of drug
cases, attended the symposium in Chattanooga, Tenn., in August.

"On the way back, we came up with an idea," Millican said.

The string of violent crimes relating to crystal meth before the symposium
had Millican and Harp looking for something that might help.

"We knew we had to develop some type of plan," Harp said.

By early September, the county had its first drug docket in Millican's
court. The pilot program tested just how successful prosecuting all the
drug cases as quickly as possible could be. The majority of the cases were
for crystal meth.

At the symposium, the federal agencies demonstrated how crystal meth was
made and had addicts speak firsthand to the officials who attended.

"I've never seen a drug with this much addiction power, not even crack,"
Millican said of meth.

He said he learned at the symposium that it takes as long as 18 to 24
months for addicts to get off the drug and stay off. The effects on the
brain are long lasting, he said.

Millican worked with Harp, defense attorneys and his secretary to put
together the drug docket for the week of Sept. 8.

In his experience as a defense attorney, Millican said he sent letters to
the defense attorneys in advance, explaining what he had planned and told
the attorneys cases would not be postponed.

The docket contained 151 cases, with 117 disposed of that week, Millican said.

"We disposed of 73 percent of the docket that week," Millican said.

The majority of possession cases usually get probation, while distribution
and trafficking charges have stiffer penalties, Millican said.

"Instead of putting people on probation, we diverted sentencing to
community corrections," Millican said. "They're technically state inmates
and there is tailor-made drug rehab."

Through the community corrections program, random drug testing is done and
the person wears a monitor, such as an ankle bracelet, Millican said.

"They're basically on house arrest," he said.

The most positive outcome is getting drug offenders to court quickly,
Millican said.

Oftentimes, once someone is charged and released on bond, they become a
repeat offender while out of jail, Harp said.

Currently in Millican's court, 90 percent of all drug cases are from this
year, he said.

"It's important, especially with crystal meth, in speeding up that
process," Millican said.

The goal of the drug court and getting people to court quicker is to get
them into some type of program as quickly as possible, Millican said.

"Secondly, we want to keep them from reoffending while out on bond, waiting
to go to court," Millican said. "If someone is strung out on meth, they're
not going to stop on their own accord."

Some other changes will be part of the bonding process, Millican said.
Those arrested for possession charges of meth will have to submit to random
drug screens while out on bond. If someone tests positive for drugs, bond
can be revoked, Millican said.

After the success with the drug court, Millican has talked with the other
three judges who are doing similar court dockets.

"The public has the perception that drug crimes take years to come to
court," Millican said. "We're making efforts to see that doesn't happen."