Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 Source: Sun Herald (MS) Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald Contact: http://www.sunherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432 Author: Tracy Dash DRUG COURT: WEEKENDS IN JAIL A Second Chance For Addicts MAGNOLIA - Circuit Judge Keith Starrett leaned back in his big leather chair last week and peered over papers to chastise a woman who had tested positive for drugs. Helen McDonald, 35, of Summit apologized to Starrett, then turned to the nearly 40 people who filled about half of the Pike County courtroom and explained that she "messed up" and wasn't honest with herself or the court. A sheriff's deputy escorted the tearful McDonald out the courtroom and secured her in a holding cell, where she waited for an hour before being taken to the county jail to serve a 10-day sentence. McDonald, an OxyContin addict, is one of about 150 participants in the state's first drug court program. The program gives first-time drug offenders like McDonald a second chance at life. Drug court isn't perfect, Starrett said. But some of the Harrison County judges believe drug court is part of the solution to the state's substance abuse problem and recently received funding to start a similar program on the Coast. Makesha Hatcher of Brookhaven also believes in the program. The 22-year-old college student lost a full scholarship to Hinds Community College because she was addicted to OxyContin. Hatcher received a round of applause last week when she told Starrett that she had been accepted to an engineering work-study program. She has struggled in the drug court program and recently tested positive for drugs and just served the first of five weekends in the county jail. Starrett and others, including state Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Pittman, say the four-phase program is successful because it's helping people become drug-free and keeping them out of state prison. Drug court, Starrett said, is not a "warm and fuzzy" program. While offenders are given the opportunity to participate in the program instead of going to prison, they are subjected to random drug testing at least twice a week, must receive inpatient and outpatient treatment and are required to pay their fines. Starrett put McDonald in the county jail last week because she allowed the court to test her urine knowing it would be positive for drugs. "Honesty is a big part of this program," said Starrett. Starrett first heard about drug courts five years ago at a judicial conference. While walking on a treadmill, Starrett said he was talking to a Louisiana judge about the growing drug problems in his court district, which serves Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties. "Most of the drug addicts want to stop," Starrett said. "The felony arrest is a defining moment in their life." Participants who graduate from the program, which can take four years to complete, will not have a felony conviction. In Starrett's district, five of the 202 people who have been enrolled in the program since it began in 1999 have graduated. About 100 people are in the second phase of the program and meet with the judge once a week. Court records show 33 are in the third phase and report once a month, while 17 people are in the fourth phase and no longer report to the judge. Most of the 40 people who attended last week's hearing in Pike County are in the second phase. And most of them, including Jeffrey Davis of Crystal Springs, tested negative for drugs. Davis, 33, said he had used drugs all his adult life until a few months ago when he was arrested for prescription forgery. He received 22 days of inpatient care and 22 days of outpatient care for his addiction to painkillers. The arrest, Davis said, is what he needed to begin his recovery. "I really enjoy freedom," said Davis, who is in the second phase of the program. Starrett said the program does more than saves lives. The state could save more than $20 million a year in jail costs if every judicial district had a drug court program, he said. Each prisoner costs the state about $20,000 a year. The state would save money in other ways, he said, because participants in the program are required to work and support their families. "It keeps them off welfare," Starrett said. ~~~~~ Drug Court Harrison County plans to start a drug court program in South Mississippi by summer. Circuit Judges Robert Walker, Stephen Simpson and Jerry O. Terry said they believe the program will help people become drug-free and keep them out of prison. Walker and Simpson will preside over the cases. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors approved $58,000 for a drug court, but most of the funding will come from program participants, who will pay $50 a month for court services. The judges will meet with officials in Stone and Hancock counties to discuss making the court available to drug offenders in those counties. Walker said there will be about 40 participants the first year. The program, open to first-time, non-violent drug offenders, requires participants to be closely supervised and undergo random drug testing. Those who sell, transfer, manufacture or distribute drugs do not qualify to participate. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex