Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA)
Copyright: 2001, The Virginian-Pilot
Contact:  150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Website: http://www.pilotonline.com
Forum: http://www.pilotonline.com/webx/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Associated Press

DRUG TESTS SEND 20 BACK TO JAIL ON MIDDLE PENINSULA

GLOUCESTER, Va. -- Surprise drug and alcohol tests the day after the Super 
Bowl put more than 20 probationers and parolees back in jail.

Dale Jacobson, chief probation and parole officer for five counties on the 
Middle Peninsula, said 88 offenders were summoned to appear Monday at the 
district office in Gloucester. They were patted down, sniffed by a 
drug-detecting dog and given an hour to produce a urine specimen.

Twenty -- or 27 percent of those who were tested -- failed drug tests and 
were jailed, most because they tested positive for cocaine or marijuana, he 
said.

Three were jailed for violating instructions that they not use alcohol.

Two habitual offenders whose driver's licenses had been revoked drove 
themselves to the office and were arrested for violating probation by 
driving without a license.

Two were arrested on new criminal warrants. Twelve of the 88 didn't show 
up. Some had been arrested by Tuesday and the rest were being sought.

Jacobson said that when the date for the surprise testing was chosen, 
organizers didn't know it was the day after the Super Bowl, a popular 
occasion for parties.

"When we realized what we had done, we realized it was a good day," he said.
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