Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2008
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2008 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

COUNTY RECEIVES FEDERAL MONIES FOR DRUG COURT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County has received money  from the 
federal government to start a drug court.

A $334,480 grant was issued by the U.S. Department of  Justice, 
Office of Justice Programs, according to a  news release Wednesday 
from the Kanawha County  Commission.

The drug court will offer rehabilitative, counseling  and job 
placement services for adult nonviolent  offenders facing drug-related charges.

"I am excited to take the lead on this program as Chief  Judge for 
Kanawha County and start a new program that  will assist nonviolent 
offenders with rehabilitation  and becoming productive citizens, 
while keeping them  out of the overpopulated regional jail," said 
Chief Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker.

The program will attempt to help alcohol and substance  abusers 
recover from addictions while performing  community service and 
developing job skills, the  release states.

"I believe that the Kanawha County Drug Court will be  another useful 
community corrections mechanism that  will help cut regional jail 
costs and will provide the  rehabilitation services that nonviolent 
offenders  need," said Commission President Kent Carper. 
"The  program will work similar to the Kanawha County Day  Report 
Center, but will be for nonviolent offenders  that have committed 
drug-related crimes and will be a  more intense rehabilitation program."

The County Commission also received a grant of $49,995  from the 
Office of Justice Program's Justice and Mental  Health Program.

The funds will be used to determine ways to improve the  juvenile 
mental health system.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom