Pubdate: Tue, 21 May 2002
Source: Rutland Herald (VT)
Copyright: 2002 Rutland Herald
Contact:  http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Opinion/Letters/
Website: http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/892
Author: David Mace
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

PANEL OKS DRUG COURT FOR COUNTY

MONTPELIER -- House and Senate negotiators have reached a compromise
that could bring specialized courts to handle drug offenders to
Rutland County and five other counties around the state.

A joint House-Senate conference committee has agreed to a bill that
would spend $50,000 to help lay the groundwork for drug courts in
Rutland, Bennington and Chittenden counties, and would allow up to
three other counties to seek funds for similar programs.

The drug courts would allow defendants the option of entering
intensive substance abuse treatment programs instead of going to jail.
The House passed a measure that would have allowed a pilot program to
start in Rutland, but there were differences in the Senate-passed version.

Under the compromise bill, a community-based committee made up of
community members, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the local judges,
social service agencies and substance abuse providers would oversee
how the court would work.

"It can be a modified drug docket (similar to one being operated in
Burlington now) or an actual drug court," said Rep. Margaret Flory,
R-Pittsford, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee. "It can be
for juveniles or geared toward anybody. It's up to the community."

The bill requires state officials in the judiciary and human service
branches of government to seek federal funding to pay for additional
judges or treatment services needed. Flory said it was hoped the state
could find out later this year how much money was available.

But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Sears, D-Bennington,
said he hoped that communities could use the state money to start
informal programs similar to Burlington's, then augment those with
federal funds when they become available. "They can start without
those grants," he said.

Both the House and Senate must still approve the compromise bill.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake