Pubdate: Sun, 30 Sep 2001
Source: American Press (LA)
Copyright: 2001 Shearman Corporation
Contact:  http://www.americanpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/926
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG COURT PROBLEMS WARRANT INVESTIGATION

A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge is investigating a drug treatment 
center that was closed recently because it ran out of money.

The Straight and Narrow Drug Treatment Center was order closed by Judge Pro 
Tempore Salvador Mule, who ruled that the center was out of money. Mule was 
appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to oversee administration of the 
Baton Rouge juvenile court, including Straight and Narrow.

The drug treatment center and a juvenile drug court were started by East 
Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Judge Pam Taylor. Taxpayer-funded grants 
totaling $502,000 had been obtained to fund the court through June 2002.

However, as of last week, only about $6,000 remained, public records show.

Much of the money went to pay the salaries of the center's two managers: 
administrator Peter John and treatment director Ferlenzo Holmes, neither of 
who are licensed counselors. John worked part time and made $68,000 while 
Holmes made $50,000 per year.

John, a lawyer, defied Mule's court order ordering him to turn over some of 
the center's financial record.

Mule said that John's lack of cooperation lead to the closure of the facility.

Johnson has said that she set up Straight and Narrow because Baton Rouge 
lacked another facility suitable for a Juvenile Drug Court program. 
However, Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Richey has said she sends children 
from her court to a state-run treatment program.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff deputies carried off files, computers and 
equipment from the clinic after the court order was enforced.

John and Holmes' part in the center's expenditures should be investigated. 
Reports indicate that the federal grand jury is also investigating the 
grant application Johnson filed to get the federal grant.

State Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle has said his office will also look into 
the matter after the grand jury's work is done.

On the surface, this appears to be another abuse of taxpayers' money.

We hope the investigating bodies will dig deep to find all the people 
responsible for the center's financial problems.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl