CARTER PANEL STUDYING SETTING UP NEW DRUG COURT

ELIZABETHTON - There may soon be a new court in Carter County set up to
handle non-violent drug abusers. A panel of county officials has begun work
to establish the new court, similar to one that has been established in
Washington County.

The reason for the interest in the alternative court is that a drug court
provides a more comprehensive supervision of offenders than normal courts,
said Vanessa Scott, drug court coordinator with Comprehensive Community
Services.

This intensive supervision has been shown to be the most effective means of
controlling drug users' behavior and addiction.

While there is a probation program set up in all criminal courts to monitor
the behavior of those who have been convicted, what makes a drug court
different is that the probationary supervision is much more intensive,
Scott said.

She said that nearly every day, those in the program will have some kind of
appointment to meet. One day it might be with a probation officer, the next
day a drug counselor, the next day it might be for a drug screening, the
next day it might be an appointment with the drug court judge and the next
day a vocational counselor.

"They won't have time to get into more trouble," Elizabethton Police Chief
Roger Deal said. He is a member of the committee that is exploring the program.

"One of the things I like about the program from a law-enforcement
perspective is that if I hear that someone has been to a bar or done
something else wrong, I know they will be reporting to someone the next
day; I don't have to go out and find them," Deal said.

Some of the other local officials who are working to develop the drug court
are Sessions Court Judge John Walton, Assistant District Attorney General
Mark Hill, Carter County Circuit Court Clerk John Paul Mathes and Carter
County Sheriff's Department Investigator Johnny Blankenship.

Scott said the drug courts have achieved a great deal of success throughout
the nation. There are now approximately 750 drug courts in the United
States, with another 500 being planned.

More than 300,000 people have entered the drug court programs. Many of the
programs have achieved remarkable success in reducing drug abuse and repeat
offenses, statistics show.

The local group will study the most successful programs in the nation and
tailor those techniques to the local situation to develop a program that
will be successful, Scott said.

The group must also determine eligibility criteria and other details. Since
the program is designed for non-violent misdemeanor offenders, it will not
include those who have been charged with domestic violence and those who
are charged with possession of drugs for resale.

Scott said the group will also be working to enlist other community leaders
to join a steering committee for the program.

"It takes strong support from the community to make it work," she said.