JUDGE LAUDS DRUG COURT PROGRAM

TUSCUMBIA - If it can help one person overcome addiction to illegal drugs
and become a productive member of society, it's worth it.

That's what Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher thinks about the
county's Drug Court program.

After months of research, planning and training, Colbert County launched
its drug court program about a year ago.

It recently graduated its first two participants.

While it is labor intensive on the part of those involved, Hatcher said the
extra hours are worth the results.

"Everybody involved in it is doing it because they care, and that makes a
big difference," she said.

Those involved are taking on the extra work on a volunteer basis. Drug
court is designed to give people charged with nonviolent drug-related
offenses an opportunity to get help with their addiction.

If they can complete the voluntary 12- to 18-month program, their cases
will be dismissed.

Court Referral Officer Gary Wallace warned that the drug court program is
not for everybody, only those who are serious about getting help. For many,
it might be easier to simply plead guilty, do the time and return to the
streets.

"If you want to get straight and you're willing to work for it, we're here
for you," Wallace said. "A lot

of people could be off probation by the time they go through the program."

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Brown said participants have to meet
certain criteria. Drug court will not accept anyone charged with a violent
offense or with distributing drugs.

"We have let people with prior felonies in," Brown said.

It could be someone who is stealing to support their drug habit or others
who forged checks in order to get money for drugs."

Defense attorneys usually apply on behalf of their clients.

The cases are reviewed by Hatcher, Brown, Wallace and Tony Riley, a
representative of the defense bar.

If accepted into the program, the defendant agrees to enter a guilty plea
and an agreed upon sentence. They then have to go through the various
requirements that are established by the committee.

Hatcher said those requirements vary from case to case.

"Their treatment is geared toward them," she said. "We don't take everyone
because we don't have the ability to."

Participants must enroll in a drug-treatment program and must have a job or
be actively seeking one. They are also subject to random drug tests and
must meet with the court referral officer on at least a weekly basis.

"We've found that people who work are a lot more motivated to do the right
thing," Wallace said.

The reward if they complete the program is beating their addiction and
having their charges dropped.

Because there can be relapses, Brown said individuals are not immediately
thrown out of the program if a drug screen comes back positive.

They will, however, spend some time in jail.

"We let them think about what they want to do," Hatcher said. "If they
don't do what they're supposed to, their sentence is imposed."

Because the participant has pleaded guilty and agreed to a sentence, a
motion to impose sentence will be filed if they leave the program, Brown said.

Hatcher said one person outright failed the program while two others who
were approved "never did what they were supposed to, so they were out
immediately."

Brown said the program has not been around long enough to start looking at
recidivistic rates.

"I certainly feel like it can prevent crime from occurring," Brown said.

"In the district attorney's office, our goal is to prosecute crimes when
they're committed, but hopefully we can prevent crimes from being
committed. I think this program can do that."

Wallace said there are eight to 10 people going through various stages of
drug court programs.

Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Mike Jones said a drug court will
eventually be part of the county's community corrections program.

Jones said he and Community Corrections Director Elizabeth Berry have
received some training and will attend additional sessions with others who
will be involved in drug court.

The judge said it will not be difficult to establish a drug court in
Lauderdale County.

"Most of the fixed costs that other jurisdictions have had to come up with
are already in place," Jones said. "That part of it will be easier for us."

One of those costs is the Lauderdale County Work Release Center.

The difficult part, he said, will be figuring out how to find the time for
the additional court appearances that drug court will bring.

"We have all the building blocks in place to implement it, but not enough
hours in the day to get it done," Jones said. "We'll cross that bridge when
we get to it."

He said the court is already doing much of what drug court aims to
accomplish, but on a smaller scale.

Hatcher said if Lauderdale County wants the program to succeed, then it will.

"I think it's one of those programs where as long as you're willing to
spend the time, you can make it work," Hatcher said. "If you have people
willing to invest time in it, it's going to work."