Pubdate: Sat, 08 Mar 2003
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2003 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

AMENDMENT TO DRUG COURT BILL SETS LIMITATIONS

House Version Only Allows Controlled Substance Offenders

An amendment to a statewide drug court bill limits participants to those 
convicted of possession of a controlled substance.

But statewide drug court system supporters say the amendment will slam the 
door on the success of alternative drug courts.

"It is absolutely gutted in its present form," said Circuit Judge Keith 
Starrett, who started the state's first alternative drug court program in 1999.

Drug court programs seek treatment for offenders with drug problems rather 
than incarceration. Starrett's program for Lincoln, Walthall and Pike 
counties allows individuals who plead guilty to such crimes as prescription 
drug forgery, DUI, larceny and embezzlement to participate if it's 
determined their crimes were due to drug or alcohol abuse.

Programs also operate in Hinds County; Leflore, Sunflower and Washington 
counties; and Ridgeland City Court.

Senate Bill 2605 was approved last month by the Senate. An amended version 
was approved this week by a House Committee.

Starrett and other supporters hope the bill will go to a House-Senate 
conference committee and be restored to its original form.

Starrett said many property crimes and other crimes are committed because 
of drug or alcohol abuse.

House Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Bobby Moody, 
D-Louisville, said his concern about the Senate version is that he doesn't 
want to see a person with a third DUI offense going into the program in 
lieu of serving time.

"I want that person off the street," Moody said.

Starrett said a third-DUI offender would still serve 365 days under the 
Senate bill but would also get treatment.

"As long as they are serving time, I'm fine with it," Moody said.

State Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Brookhaven, the main sponsor of Senate Bill 
2605, said she and others have discussed the change with House counterparts.

"I feel good about it," Hyde-Smith said of the bill returning to its 
original form.

The state could save about $5.4 million annually based on 500 participants 
going into a statewide drug court system instead of being housed in the 
state Department of Corrections, State Auditor Phil Bryant said in a report 
released in January.
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