Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jul 2003
Source: Midland Reporter-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2003 The Midland Reporter-Telegram
Contact:  http://www.mywesttexas.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/264
Author: Melissa DeLoach
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

CERTAIN DRUG OFFENDERS TO GET TREATMENT

Low level drug offenders will soon be required to adhere to mandatory 
community supervision for first time offenses following passage of 
legislation June 20.

Effective Sept. 1, the bill amends the state penal code giving first time 
offenders guilty for possession of less than one gram of certain controlled 
substance treatment over incarceration.

The bill's intent is to reduce recidivism and address the crisis of prison 
overcrowding, officials said.

"This bill is a step in the right direction as far as we're concerned," 
said Ann del Llano, a Midland native and legislative liaison for the ACLU. 
"By putting them in treatment we're saving families and reducing crime in 
the future. We're forcing people to improve their lives instead of just 
sending them to prison."

Statewide, approximately 4,040 first time, low level drug offenders will be 
shifted from state jails to community supervision, according to estimates 
from the Criminal Justice Policy Council. In 2002, there were approximately 
9,130 state jail admissions for possession of a controlled substance, less 
that one gram.

In Midland, there are approximately 3,000 individuals serving probation, 
said Allen Bell, deputy director of operations for the Midland County Adult 
Probation Office. Of this, an estimated 70 percent involve narcotics, he said.

"Most of the people here on probation involve crimes related to drugs and 
alcohol," said Bell, adding many of them are first time offenders.

"The majority of drug offenders here are getting probation anyway, so I 
don't think it (the bill) will really affect us."

However, the probation office may have to adjust financially following 
state cuts to programs locally. Bell said the state cut $67,000 in funds 
from the electronic monitoring and education programs the probation office 
operates.

The probation office, which operates on a $1.2 million budget, receives 
half of their aid from the state. The remaining comes from $40 monthly fees 
paid by probationers, Bell said.

"All of these funding cuts are taking away from what we're trying to 
offer," he said.

When an individual is sentenced to probation, officers screen the candidate 
for the level of assistance they may need. Both outpatient and inpatient 
services are offered in addition to various support groups, Bell said.

The bill, authored by Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie, and sponsored by 
Sen. John Whitmire, R-Houston, is estimated to save the state $30 million, 
according to the Criminal Justice Policy Council.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager