Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 Source: Central Michigan Life (MI Edu) Copyright: 2004 Central Michigan LIFE Contact: http://www.cm-life.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2808 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) NEW LAW TO EXPAND DRUG COURTS Nonviolent drug offenders now have a therapeutic option to the judicial system in Isabella County with the support of a new law to expand drug courts statewide. A drug court in Mount Pleasant has been working with local offenders facing criminal drug charges, said Kathleen Fields, coordinator of the Isabella County Drug Treatment Court. "We have a very individualized approach to the participants seeking treatment, and it's a real positive experience overall," she said. In the county, 43 people received help through the 12 to 18 month program offered at the drug court, Fields said, and eight people have graduated successfully since the court began operating last year. Fields estimated there are about seven CMU and Mid Michigan Community College students going through the drug court's program. She said a number of the drug offenders are in their early 30s, and most are facing alcohol charges. The new law will serve as an alternative to prison for nonviolent drug offenders and expand the use of drug courts statewide under a bipartisan legislative package signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm last Wednesday. Granholm said drug courts offer another way to handle nonviolent offenders use of alcohol and drugs causing their criminal behavior. There are more than 36 operational drug court programs-- including Isabella County's drug court -- in 16 Michigan counties. Another 27 programs are reportedly in the planning stages. The drug court in Isabella County received a $70,000 grant this year through the Department of Community Health Office of Drug Control Policy. Only 23 drug courts received state funding this year. Last year, drug courts in Michigan received $2.4 million in state appropriation funds. According to a study released by the National Institute of Justice, out of the 17,000 drug court graduates nationwide only 16.4 percent had been re-arrested and charged with a felonious offense. Fields said drug courts are continuing to break the cycle of drugs and crime. It has been a priority of the Granholm administration to expand the use of drug courts to save lives and save taxpayers' money instead of putting offenders in jails and prison. Drug courts ultimately save money, Fields said, and decrease substance abusers chances of relapsing back into their habitual criminal behavior. She said if drug offenders graduate successfully from the program, the charges would be dropped. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake