MCMILLAN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING COURT FUNDING

I am a Circuit Court Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District, which
includes Rutherford and Cannon counties. I preside over our Drug Court.
This court is available to non-violent drug addicts who want to turn their
lives around and become productive citizens. The program runs for
approximately 12 to 18 months and includes weekly appearances in court,
random drug screens, educational requirements, attendance at AA meetings,
plus payments of fines and court costs. Sadly one in five are not
successful and are required to serve their jail sentence. Statistically of
the participants who graduate, only 8 percent will ever be rearrested. This
compares to a 50 percent recidivism rate if people go into the penal system.

More importantly to taxpayers, the cost of the program is around $5,000 per
person while the cost of incarceration is in excess of $25,000 per person.

There are over 600 Drug Courts operating in the United States. Currently
there are 14 Drug Courts operating in Tennessee. A majority of the funding
for these programs comes from federal grants overseen by the Department of
Justice. Regretfully, these federal funds can only be used to start up
these programs, not sustain them.

This is where your local State Rep. Kim McMillan came to the rescue. Her
leadership in the House was instrumental in the adoption of the Drug Court
Treatment Bill, which adds $75 to the fines for drug convictions, and these
funds are designated for the operations of Drug Courts.

I know public service requires sacrifice, courage and a compassionate
heart. McMillan encompasses all of these qualities. Tennessee and
Montgomery County are fortunate to have such a fine leader in the House of
Representatives. It is with all of this that I express my thanks to people
who have elected and entrusted her to this position.

Don R. Ash

Circuit Court Judge

Murfreesboro