Council To Seek Program Money

HELP IS ASKED FOR DRUG COURTS

The Richmond City Council will pore over its cash-strapped budget in search
of money for the city's juvenile and adult drug courts.

The council heard drug court advocates and participants request help
yesterday during an informal meeting in the council chamber.

Drug court participant Gene Willis had a ready reply when Councilwoman Reva
Trammell asked why the council should find money in its budget for the drug
court.

"Because it's a life-saving program," he replied.

The Richmond Adult Drug Court is a voluntary, court-supervised treatment
program for nonviolent felony offenders.

The General Assembly did not fund juvenile and adult drug court programs in
Richmond and a dozen other jurisdictions throughout the state. Gov. Mark R.
Warner is pondering restoring $2.7 million to the state budget to pay for
the programs; Richmond's adult drug court currently is funded by a $325,000
state grant.

In the meantime, drug court advocates in each locale are seeking local help
to keep their programs going. Unless Warner comes to the rescue or private
or local funding is obtained, the Richmond drug court will run out of money
at the end of June.

The city has its own money problems. As a result of the state budget
crunch, Richmond faces a $9.6 million state funding shortfall next fiscal year.

Nonetheless, "We certainly will keep this on our list of items as we go
through the budget process," said Mayor Rudolph C. McCollum Jr.

Council members sprinkled their questions with favorable comments about the
program.

"We can walk around talking about 'lock'em up, lock'em up, lock'em up,' and
some of them need to be locked up," Councilman W.R. "Bill" Johnson Jr.
said. "But those who are earnestly trying to get back on their feet need
our support."

Commonwealth's Attorney David Hicks said his office volunteers its time on
behalf of the drug courts because his staff believes in the program. The
program gives his office credibility because it demonstrates that
prosecutors are about more than locking people up, he said.

"I would urge members of the council to find a way to support this," Hicks
said.

He said the defendants who go through the program are all potential
convictions for his office. "But a successful life is much more important
than a conviction will ever be."