Pubdate: Sat, 11 Jun 2005
Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times Daily
Contact:  http://www.timesdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641
Author: Russ Corey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

7 COMPLETE DRUG COURT PROGRAM IN LAUDERDALE

FLORENCE -- Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Mike Jones has always said
completing the drug court program wouldn't be easy.

He isn't surprised when some criminal defendants in the program flunk
out, opting instead to serve their sentences.

The ones who remain are subject to intense supervision, drug
treatment, random drug testing and the possibility of searches anytime
or anywhere.

"This is not the easy way out," Jones said. "I tell them that up
front."

On Friday, seven people who spent more than a year completing the
program in Lauderdale County were recognized for their accomplishments
at a graduation-ceremony.

The county began its drug court program in February 2004. Because it
was being incorporated into the existing community corrections
program, only 15 slots were available.

"It took a month or two to fill 15 slots," Jones said.

There is no set time for completing drug court, the judge
said.

"It can be two or three years, as long as it takes to jump through all
the hoops and do what's required," Jones said.

Some participants slip up and are sent back to repeat a phase, he
said. A slip-up doesn't necessarily get them thrown out of drug court,
but it can extend the amount of time spent in the program, he said.

If someone quits, the sentence they have agreed upon is
invoked.

Jones said that so far only about eight participants have failed drug
court outright.

There are about 13 participants in the program.

"It is the longest, most intensive drug treatment program available,"
Jones said.

Jones said those who complete the program should be free from the drug
addition that spurred their criminal activity.

That is the real goal, said Gary Wallace, a court referral officer for
the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments.

"The real reward is leaving the program clean and sober," said
Wallace, who is involved in Colbert County's drug court program.

"We've had some really good successes," Wallace said. "We want
everybody to be successful, but that just won't happen."

Wallace said about 40 people have entered Colbert's drug court program
since it started in February 2003. Eight people have graduated, while
14 or 15 remain in the program.

For those who successfully complete the program, their case is
dismissed and there is no record of them being convicted of a felony,
Wallace said.

Colbert Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher said there is another plus to
completing the program.

"Those that have graduated, I don't think we've had a single one come
back," Hatcher said.

Nationwide, Jones said, the recidivism rate is about 20 percent for
drug court graduates, which is much lower than the recidivism rate for
people coming out of the prison system.

Franklin County has one of the oldest drug court programs in the
state, said Circuit Judge Sharon Hester.

Since the first class graduated in August 2002, 28 people have
successfully completed Franklin's-program.

"We have only had two to reoffend," Hester said. "That's an 85 percent
success rate."

About 40 percent of the people who have had an opportunity to attend
Franklin's drug court have left the program or failed to complete it.

Franklin began its drug court program in late 2000. It's funded
through the county's community corrections program and a $467,000
federal grant.

Colbert and Lauderdale counties are operating their drug court
programs without the benefit of grants.

Jones said Lauderdale County received money for training and hopes to
receive a grant to enlarge the program.

"It's working out pretty well," Wallace said. "It doesn't cost anybody
anything, except the defendant."
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