Pubdate: Wed, 29 May 2002
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2002 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Jimmie E. Gates
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

HINDS DRUG COURT GETS OVERALL POSITIVE REVIEW

But Auditor Cites Areas Of Concern With Program

Since the first gavel sounded in the Hinds County Drug Court in March 2000, 
the treatment program for first-time offenders has struggled through less 
than stellar results - less than 20 percent success - and fitful leadership.

The special judge assigned to hear the cases resigned nine months after 
taking office during an inquiry over her residency. She lives in Madison 
County.

And the judge who took over the program is retiring, leaving who will run 
the court in question.

But the state auditor's office, in a review of the program, gave it high 
marks - and a list of procedural problems to correct. "I believe in the 
program. It's a good program," state Auditor Phil Bryant said Tuesday. "The 
procedural problems are not anything critical."

The audit department listed three areas of concern:

- -- The Drug Court proposal was not included on the Hinds County Board of 
Supervisors minutes in 1999, the year it was created.

- -- A salary was paid to Patricia Bennett, who was appointed by senior Hinds 
County Circuit Judge L. Breland Hilburn to preside over the Drug Court. 
Bennett served from January 2001 to October 2001 before resigning after 
questions were raised about residency requirements and whether state law 
allows the appointment of a special judge indefinitely to hear such cases.

- -- No reports were being submitted to check the effectiveness of the 
program. Brenda Mathis, director of the Drug Court program, told an 
auditor's office employee the only reports she had prepared were sent to 
the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, and the board took no action.

Mathis couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

About 14 people have graduated from the Drug Court program, which seeks 
treatment over incarceration for mostly first-time drug possession offenders.

The first participants were accepted into the program in March 2000.

State Rep. Alyce Clarke of Jackson, who initiated the effort to get a drug 
court treatment program for Hinds County, said there can be some 
improvement, but the program is headed in the right direction.

"We need some help from the community and volunteers to put a major dent in 
the drug problem," Clarke said.

Clarke said the Drug Court program has been hampered by not having a steady 
judge.

Bryant said a sitting judge should have been appointed to hear the drug 
cases instead of a special judge.

Hilburn, who now oversees Drug Court, has said he is retiring at the end of 
the month, leaving who will preside over the program undecided.
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