Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jan 2002
Source: Birmingham News (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://www.al.com/bhamnews/bham.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45

DRUG COURT DETAILS

Jefferson County Judge Pete Johnson started drug court in 1996 after he 
grew frustrated by repeatedly seeing the same people in his district court 
on drug charges. Nearly two-thirds of Jefferson County defendants facing 
felony charges test positive for drugs at their arrest.

Drug court seeks to attack the main problem that leads to crime an 
offender's drug addiction.

Only nonviolent offenders are eligible for drug court. Defendants whose 
records indicate they could be dope sellers or traffickers, and those 
arrested with guns in their possession cannot apply. Participants' 
convictions are set aside upon completion of the program.

The prosecutor and probation officer research a defendant's criminal 
history before suggesting drug court. Police officers must agree to a 
defendant's drug court enrollment.

Drug court participants must pay $80 $20 for jail and $60 for an hour with 
a court-appointed lawyer for every night they spend in jail for violating 
the program.

Defendants pay $1,500 to help cover program costs; undergo regular and 
sometimes surprise drug tests; attend narcotics support meetings; have 
constant contact with drug court case managers; and do 100 hours in 
community service. For those without a job and community service, the court 
sees to it that they get one. High school dropouts are required to take GED 
classes.

Drug court participants have paid nearly $1.9 million in fees to fund the 
program since its inception.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom