HARRISON LEADERS APPROVE DRUG COURT

Supervision Would Replace Jail Time

BILOXI - Harrison County supervisors on Monday unanimously approved funding
to start a drug court, one of the first of its kind in the state.

Circuit Judges Robert Walker, Stephen Simpson and Jerry O. Terry have been
pushing for the new drug court because they believe it will help people
kick drug habits that lead to violent crimes.

"If you can truly get these people off of drugs, they're not going to
commit another crime," Walker said. "They're going to be making a living
and paying taxes. And their families will be off welfare rolls."

The cost for the first year of the program will be about $90,000. Harrison
County approved a $58,000 appropriation on Monday. Walker will meet with
Stone and Hancock County supervisors later this month about funding the
program. The bulk of the funding will come from program participants, who
will pay $50 each month and also will pay for inpatient drug treatment.

Pending approval from Stone and Hancock counties, the new court should
begin by late spring or summer, Walker said. There will be about 40
enrolled in the program by the end of its first year, he said.

Instead of serving jail time, people would be placed under intensive
supervision, meeting with probation officers at least once a week. The
program is voluntary, and only first-time offenders can qualify.

Supervisors discussed the drug court last week but decided to table the
issue until they received more information.

Supervisor William Martin, who made the motion to fund the court, said he
believes there is enough evidence to prove that drug courts are effective.

"If we get on board with it and it's successful, then it may be something
that they will look at statewide," Martin said.

District Attorney Cono Caranna, who has been pushing for a drug court for
more than three years, said it will be one of the first in the state.

He said other programs started in Harrison County courts have become models
for others or have been adopted statewide. If successful, the drug court
could be a model as well, he said.