Pubdate: Thu, 09 Sep 2004 Source: Clarksdale Press Register (MS) Copyright: 2004, Clarksdale Press Register Contact: http://www.pressregister.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1656 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROVIDES GRANT TO DRUG COURT The 11th Circuit Drug Court will receive a $450,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant. The 11th Circuit includes Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica counties. Eleven participants from Bolivar and Coahoma counties are already enrolled in Drug Court. The program started a year ago. The three-year grant, which is provided by the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, began Sept. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, 2007. Court officials received notice of the grant award Wednesday. The 11th Circuit Drug Court has previously operated entirely with volunteers and no budget, said Court Administrator Becky Cochran. Participants meet once every two weeks with Circuit Court Judge Larry O. Lewis. Volunteers handle the drug testing and monitoring of participants. Said Cochran: "We will be able to expand our program. We will be able to have a case manager that will allow for closer monitoring of the participants. It will allow us to pay for some treatment costs, which will get the participants into treatment faster." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin