Pubdate: Thu, 29 Apr 2004
Source: Joplin Globe, The (MO)
Copyright: 2004 The Joplin Globe
Contact:  http://www.joplinglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/859
Author: Gary Garton, Globe Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

DRUG COURT SEEKS ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Program Hopes to Double Capacity

MIAMI, Okla. - Oklahoma's Drug Court program has proved successful 
statewide, but it is limited by the number of "slots" the state can finance 
in each judicial district.

The program in the 13th Judicial District, which comprises Ottawa and 
Delaware counties, is no exception. It was initiated last October by 
District Attorney Eddie Wyant.

"We were funded initially for 30 slots in the two counties," Wyant said 
this week. "Right now, we have 10 people in the Delaware County program and 
20 in Ottawa. They are showing progress in getting away from the drug 
lifestyle and continuing abuse."

The program is open to nonviolent drug offenders, regardless of their past 
record. It provides a deferred-sentencing program coupled with treatment, 
counseling and intensive supervision for a period of six months to two years.

After applying for the program for the first time last year, the 13th 
Judicial District received a grant of $27,500 from the state Department of 
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to pay a program administrator 
for one year and help purchase drug-testing supplies.

Michael Huggens is the 13th Judicial District coordinator. The program is 
administered by a Drug Court Assessment Team.

Those involved are a judge, the prosecutor, and representatives of the 
sheriff's office in each county, the district's drug task force, the state 
Indigent Defense System, the Northeast Oklahoma Council on Alcoholism, and 
the Oklahoma Department of Probation and Parole. The team considers 
individual applicants for admission into the program.

People who are selected are given a specific course of treatment, 
counseling and supervision aimed at keeping them drug-free and working 
toward a productive lifestyle and role in society. Those who test positive 
for drug use are subject to immediate sanctions, including county jail time.

Offenders who are unable to meet the program's requirements are sentenced 
to prison for their original drug crimes.

Wyant said one important benefit of the program is that it "breaks up the 
generational cycle of drug abuse in families."

Kenney Wright, a local defense attorney contracting with the Oklahoma 
Indigent Defense System, said the program could easily help 100 people in 
Ottawa County alone, if funding were available.

Special Judge Bill Culver, who handles cases in the drug-court sessions in 
the two counties, said he is hopeful the funding will be expanded for 
fiscal 2004-05.

"I can tell this is benefiting not only the people involved, but the 
state's economic problems as well," Culver said. "I hope the Legislature 
sees it that way and increases the money."

Wyant said the program "makes common fiscal sense" for the state.

"It costs, in rough ballpark figures, about $25,000 a year to keep someone 
in prison," he said. "It costs about $2,500 a year to put them through the 
drug-court program and achieve some measure of rehabilitation."

Jo Ann Bronstad, state coordinator of the program, has said the statistics 
since it began in 1998 in some counties show an overall success ratio.

Of drug-court "graduates," only 6.9 percent are arrested for new drug 
crimes in the first year, compared with 17.4 percent of offenders in the 
traditional probation and parole program.

"We're asking the state to give us 60 slots in the new fiscal year budget," 
Wyant said. "We're just waiting now for the Legislature to approve a new 
budget."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager