BILL WOULD ESTABLISH DRUG COURT

NATCHEZ - The state's Administrative Office of the Courts would oversee a
statewide drug court program under a bill now before the state House of
Representatives.

"It empowers the AOC to set guidelines" for such programs, said Adams
County Youth Court Judge John Hudson, whose juvenile drug court program is
the first in the state.

Hudson has met with other judges and with treatment professionals
throughout the session to help iron out the bill's details and said he
feels good about the measure's chances.

Under Senate Bill 2605, passed by the Senate and sent to the House
Appropriations Committee earlier this month:

Courts wanting to establish drug court programs would send the AOC a full
description of the programs and their funding sources, and the AOC would be
in charge of certifying the programs.

Such programs would have to include invention components, which could
include clinical assessment, education, referral, case management,
counseling and treatment.

A State Drug Courts Advisory Committee would monitor the courts and
recommend any changes to the AOC.

Participants could have no previous felony convictions for violent crimes.
They also could not be currently charged with a violent crime, with
distribution or production of drugs or with driving under the influence.

True, the bill does not provide any source of funding for the statewide
network of drug courts, said Hudson.

But with a framework in place to certify and monitor drug courts, "it (the
AOC) could help draw down the federal funds are available to help fund
things like this," Hudson said.