Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Bolivar Commercial, The (MS)
Copyright: 2003 The Bolivar Commercial, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc
Contact:  http://www.bolivarcom.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1775

DRUG COURT: TEMPERING JUSTICE WITH MERCY

Circuit Court Judge Al Smith is right to be enthusiastic about the
drug court concept. It does offer "a wonderful opportunity" for those
who have gone wrong to set their lives aright.

More than that the drug courts are beneficial to society as a whole
because they cut down on recidivism. That's especially important in a
state like Mississippi which is trying to cope with the financial
burden of a burgeoning prison population.

When nonviolent drug offenders, who have to apply for the program, are
accepted, they are regularly tested for drugs, have to go to court
twice a week, meet with mental health counselors weekly, obtain either
an high school diploma and be gainfully employed.

If the offenders stay clean and meet all the requirements of the
program during a nine to 12-month period, they can become regular
citizens again, and the court has the power to expunge their records.

We believe the program is an especially enlightened one, which is
badly needed in our society. It's a good alternative to sending people
convicted of nonviolent crime to prison.

Too often prisons become basically crime factories where inmates,
through their association with hardened criminals, learn little else
other than how to commit more serious crimes. Efforts at
rehabilitation are frequently lacking, and the recidivism rate is
unacceptably high.

The drug court program accomplishes one other important purpose. It
tempers justice with mercy, which should be the mark of a
compassionate and Christian society.

We hope leaders in other counties in our area show the same moxie
Bolivar County officials have shown in their efforts to establish a
drug court. It could end up paying off handsomely in terms of not only
lower prison costs but in terms of lives salvaged from certain ruin.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake