Pubdate: Thu, 04 Nov 2004 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2004 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Author: Peter Mathews, Central Kentucky Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) JUVENILE DRUG COURT IN THE WORKS IN MADISON, CLARK COUNTIES RICHMOND - Madison and Clark counties, which together have the state's highest rate of drug-related juvenile offenses, are creating a court to try to solve the problem. The counties recently received a $450,000 federal grant to set up a Juvenile Drug Court. District Judge Brandy O. Brown, who has worked with District Judge Jeffrey Walson to create the court, said she hopes it is fully running in both counties by January. There are 11 juvenile drug courts and 16 adult courts in Kentucky, serving 55 counties. They are becoming popular for treating, rather than simply punishing, offenders. And they are cheaper than incarceration. According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, studies have shown that every dollar invested in a drug court saves $10 in corrections costs. The new court in Madison and Clark will focus most closely on juveniles ages 14 to 16. According to court documents, 201 juveniles committed 253 drug-related offenses in 2002-03. The youngest was 11. Court officials say the present system is too slow and doesn't provide enough adult contact to be effective. Brown will determine who gets admitted. Fewer than three dozen juveniles a year will be picked for the intensive program, which has four phases: . Four weeks of detoxification and orientation. . Four months of intensive treatment and recovery. . Three months devoted to relapse prevention, in which the juvenile is given increasing independence. . Three months of after-care. Participants will be required to go to school and hold jobs. They'll get rewards for good schoolwork and successful drug tests, and sanctions up to expulsion if they get into trouble. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek