HAMPTON'S NEW DRUG COURT GETS FIRST 2 PARTICIPANTS

HAMPTON -- Addictions landed Esstease Bellamy and Ernest Giles III in court
facing prison time on drug charges.

Bellamy and Giles admit to their addictions. They say they want help.

On Wednesday, a circuit court judge agreed to help them by making the two
addicts the first clients in Hampton's newly-formed drug court program.

Drug courts offer non-violent drug offenders an opportunity to clean up
their lives while staying out of jail. In Hampton, the program has been up
and running since February, but until Wednesday hadn't found eligible and
willing participants.

It is a strict program that requires weekly reporting to a judge, regular
drug screens, and individual and group treatment. In the first stages of
the program, defendants must report to the program daily. Typically, the
program lasts at least 18 months, but goes as long as the client needs to
finish.

"It's not an easy program," said Chief Circuit Judge Christopher Hutton,
who will serve as the primary judge for the program. "It's challenging." In
drug court, judges take a more active role in cases as they meet with
clients weekly and closely monitor their progress through treatment.

At a hearing Wednesday, Hutton carefully questioned Bellamy and Giles about
what motivated them to sign up for drug court.

"I've been messing around for so long that I'm ready to clean up," said
Giles, who faced going back to jail for violating probation on a cocaine
charge. "This seems like a great opportunity."

The pair start treatment immediately. Others will join the program on a
rolling basis.

As of May, there were 20 communities in Virginia with active drug court
programs. Another 21 communities were planning programs, according to a
survey by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. In June, Newport
News drug court held its fourth graduation ceremony for participants who've
met their requirements. A total of 54 people have graduated since the
Newport News program started in 1998.

Funding for the programs throughout the state remains in question. Each
program cobbles together money from many sources, including local
government and private grants.

Virginia provides funding channeled down from federal grants. But local
match requirements are expected to go up, said Natalie Ward, who
administers the drug court programs in both Newport News and Hampton.

Right now, Hampton relies solely on direct federal funding. The Hampton
court does not get state funding, but does get some money from the city.
Despite the questions about future funding, officials in Hampton say they
wanted to push forward with the program because it is proven to work.

"Nothing in this life is certain," said Linda Curtis, Hampton's
commonwealth's attorney. "We're doing something we think is right. And
we're very hopeful we'll be able to finish what we start. We're working on
faith."

Hutton says there will be money to run the Hampton program for at least two
to three years. Overall, drug courts save money, Curtis said, because it
takes a group of people who typically rotate in and out of the court system
and gets them to a place where they can be productive residents.

National statistics estimate that jailing drug-using offenders costs
between $20,000 and $50,000 a year.

By contrast, drug court programs typically cost less than $2,500 a year,
according to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

"This is an investment that may really bring us fruit in terms of fewer
people in the front doors," Curtis said.

For Bellamy and Giles, Wednesday was just the first of many future court
appearances.

"You ready to go to work on it?" Hutton asked Bellamy, a heroine addict
with a long criminal record, who insists he's ready for change.

"Yes, sir."