Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jan 2007
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2007, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Karen Nelson

JACKSON COUNTY TO SET UP DRUG COURT

Program Trains Teens To Help Teens

PASCAGOULA - Jackson County is in line to set up a  long-awaited drug
court for teens at Youth Court for  one year, beginning
mid-February.

County supervisors on Tuesday voted to allow the  Jackson County
Community Services Coalition to set up  and run the drug court on
Youth Court property under  the supervision of Judge Sharon Sigalas,
with a $37,000  grant from the Mississippi Department of Public
Safety,  justice programs.

Jim Yancey, coalition director, said it's a program  Sigalas has
worked for and wanted for three years -  having teens involved in
solving the teen drug problem.

Yancey said statistically, 80 percent of the county's  youth don't
have a problem with drugs and alcohol, but  abuse has gone up since
Katrina.

Under the program, older teenagers in the county who do  not have a
drug problem will be trained to run the  court under Sigalas'
supervision and with the help of  Kim Styron, with the coalition.

Data shows teens can be harder on each other than an  adult would be,
he said.

Kids with drug problems will go through the court, he  said, and
receive community service or some sort of  intervention that will cost
them something for  violating the laws, whether it's for underage
drinking  or some other type of illegal drug use.
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