LAWRENCE TO GET DRUG COURT IN 2004

LOUISA Drug- and alcohol-addicted criminals in Lawrence County will soon
have an alternative to serving time in jail.

A drug court starting early next year will offer treatment rather than jail
time for non-violent offenders whose charges stem from the need to obtain
drugs or a crime that was committed while using drugs or alcohol.
Participants are chosen for the program based on prior history, level of
addiction and input from legal and drug addiction professionals.

A drug court is a court-managed, drug intervention treatment program
designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional criminal
case processing. According to the Kentucky Administrative Office of the
Courts, it costs about $3,000 to put an offender through drug court for one
year, one-fifth of the $15,000 it costs to house a prisoner for the same
time period.

More than half of the state's 120 counties, including Boyd and Greenup,
already have drug courts in place. During his campaign, Gov.-elect Ernie
Fletcher vowed to expand the program to every county in the Commonwealth,
though it is unclear if the funding will be available to do so.

Judge Kevin Holbrook of the 24th Circuit said the drug problem sweeping
eastern Kentucky makes drug courts a necessity. He and fellow Circuit Judge
Susan Mullins Johnson will oversee the new program in Lawrence County.

"There has been a huge increase in the number of people we are seeing who
are addicted to drugs," Holbrook said. "The thing we want to do is
segregate these people from other offenders so we can help them beat their
addiction."

Holbrook said drug court is not an easy way out for addicts. In fact, he
said, it is a rigorous, structured program that requires weekly court
appearances, drug tests, counseling and participation in 12-step programs.
Participants are also required to have employment or be enrolled in a
full-time educational program, unless medically excused. Periods of
unemployment require a minimum of 20 hours community service a week.

Pathways will be the treatment provider for the drug court.

"It is really tough. Especially for people who may not be used to having
this much structure in their lives," the judge said.

Holbrook said addicts who fail the program are sent to jail, something he
has ordered in Johnson and Martin counties - the other two in his circuit.
But, overall, the program has had amazing results, he said.

"You can see the change in these people," he said. "They change mentally
and physically. They become more productive and they feel better about
themselves."