LOCAL OFFICIALS LOOKING INTO ESTABLISHING DRUG COURT

A committee of local officials is looking at the possibility of
establishing a drug court in Hamilton County.

General Sessions Court Judge Ron Durby, a member of the group, said
recidivism rates dramatically drop for those who complete a drug court program.

"If we can get anyone out of the cycle, we will have accomplished a lot,"
he said.

Committee members plan to travel next year to drug courts across the
country to see how they work and for training, Judge Durby said.

He said many people drop out of voluntary drug court programs, because not
every participant has reached a point where he is willing to be rehabilitated.

"It's only for those people who want to get out of the cycle," he said.

Judge Durby said someone accepted into a drug court rehabilitation program
would receive a suspended sentence. Anyone not completing the program would
be taken into custody, he said.

"You don't beat the system that way," he said.

There are more than 600 drug courts across the country, including one in
Davidson County, Tenn. Nonviolent felony offenders are eligible for the
program, which takes at least one year to complete. The court offers an
intensive outpatient program and a residential treatment program.

Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, coordinator of the Hamilton County
committee, said she believes a program can work here if it is long term and
closely supervised.

"Few-week programs aren't long enough, and that's part of the problem," she
said.

Judge Stern said the costs would be high to run such a program in Hamilton
County. Drug courts across America are supported through local, state,
federal and private funding and participant fees, she said.

"If it's like the one in Nashville, it's a big financial output," she said.

District Attorney Bill Cox said he believes a drug court could boost
rehabilitation services locally.

"The important component is that rehabilitative component and, of course,
that's also the most expensive," he said.

Mr. Cox said the training sessions the committee members will attend will
make Hamilton County eligible for enough federal money to start a drug
court. However, Mr. Cox said he is concerned about whether state or local
money will be available to continue the effort.

Judge Durby said he believes the money will come, possibly from private
donations, once a program is started here.

"Once we get it rolling, people will see what can be done," he said.