COUNTY DRUG COURT CELEBRATES FIRST GRADUATE

Local judges, probation officers and public officials celebrated Friday as
the first graduate of the drug court in Washington County extolled his new
lease on life and planned for his band's potential recording contract.

Washington County Sessions Judge John Kiener presented Allen Tisdale with a
certificate for completing the one-year program that court officials billed
as anything but a vacation. Tisdale, who underwent a multitude of drug
tests, probation meetings, trips to court, Narcotics Anonymous and
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and performed community service, talked about
how much better his life had become.

"I'm very grateful for this program," said Tisdale, who had become addicted
to marijuana. "I look at things different. I feel different. It saved my
life healthwise and financialwise. And I'm very grateful for this program."

Drug court has convened in Sessions Court in Washington and Unicoi counties
since October 2001. It is designed primarily for people who are addicted
and have been convicted of a drug or alcohol offense or another crime due
to substance abuse. In many cases, a person enters the court after he has
been arrested for violating his probation on a drug conviction.

Currently, there are nine people enrolled in Washington County and two in
Unicoi County. Tisdale was convicted of simple possession of marijuana. He
attributed his success in the program to a desire to overcome his
addiction, age and a decision that it was time to "straighten up and take
charge" of his life.

Court officials started the court without money, relying instead on
donations from various social service agencies, District Public Defender
David Bautista said. He said local supporters told the agencies they would
get paid when the court receives operating funds.

The money came in June - nearly $500,000 over three years in a grant from
the federal government. Bautista said local officials were told the chances
of receiving the grant would be better if they started the court beforehand
because it would show they were serious about the idea.

The town of Erwin sponsored the grant application, and Mayor Russell
Brackins said he believes there will be a lot more graduates from the program.

Bautista said drug court evolved from a federal study that showed putting
someone in jail instead of treatment was at least three times more
expensive per year and the likelihood of someone committing another crime
when he did not receive help for drug or alcohol problems was 2 ½ times
greater.

Drug court coordinator Vanessa Scott has seen the benefits through Tisdale.

"We believe that drug court has given Allen back life the way life should
be lived - that is, a clean and sober life, one that sets Allen above the
playing field from a lot of people that we see coming through court," Scott
said. "We think it sets him on a playing field that will help him succeed
in life."

Washington County Sessions Judge Robert Lincoln, who presided over
Tisdale's many visits to court to review his progress, was full of praise
for Tisdale and hugged him after presenting him with coins he had collected
for achieving sobriety milestones.

"I always had the faith in you," Lincoln said. "I knew you could make it.
You've done a great job. You're an outstanding example to everyone else in
the program. I was a believer in (drug court) from the beginning, and I'm
glad to see that my faith is well-put."

Unicoi County Sessions Judge David Shults and Erwin Town Judge Doris
Hensley provided Tisdale with guitar picks and a pick case. Tisdale's
heavy-metal band Stillborn is seeking a recording contract with Virgin Records.

Not everyone is pleased with the drug court's operation. District Attorney
General Joe Crumley said Friday that the sanctions he endorsed for those
who did not comply with the drug court rules have not been followed. He
also cited problems with court orders and what he believes is a lack of
input from prosecutors.

"It's not at all the program I thought it would be," said Crumley, who was
not at Friday's ceremony. "I don't know how it got off track. My
understanding is we were going to be part of it, but obviously that hasn't
been happening."

Scott said there have been some paperwork troubles, but she said everyone
had been court-ordered to participate in the program. She said the
probation violations were considered in open court, and she assumed
prosecutors were present during those discussions.

Kiener said many participants have been put in jail for violating drug
court provisions and lost valuable points for their transgressions.