Pubdate: Wed, 02 Feb 2005
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2005 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact:  http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Nikki Davis Maute, Hattiesburg American
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

DRUG COURT JUDGE OFFERS TO TAKE FEDERAL OFFENDERS

How It Works

When suspects are arrested they are given the opportunity to have
their cases referred to a drug court. The program is for non-violent
and primarily first-time offenders.

Defendants plead guilty and enter the program where they can stay for
up to five years.

As part of the deal, those in the program face regular testing for
drug or alcohol use.

Those in the program must pay restitution to crime victims. Defendants
must perform a maximum 150 hours of community service.

Those accused of federal drug crimes could end up in a Forrest County
drug court.

Keith Starrett was the state's first circuit judge to develop a
felony-level drug court operation in Mississippi. Forrest-Perry
Circuit Court Judge Bob Helfrich, who modeled his court after the one
started by Starrett when he was a circuit judge, offered to take some
federal cases.

"I saw no reason to duplicate what was available and when Judge
Helfrich offered, I accepted," said Starrett, now U.S. District Court
judge in Hattiesburg. "I see this as a good way for state and federal
courts to cooperate."

Starrett's drug court became a model for many of the 13 drug courts in
the state that have developed since 1999.

Starrett has already assigned one person in his court to the Forrest
program.

"I made it part of his probation, to complete drug court," Starrett
said. "Judge Helfrich has a good program with a good staff."

Drug Court participants are given the option of going to jail or
pursuing treatment. If they choose the latter, they are required to
attend weekly meetings, hold jobs, pay court fees and pass drug tests.

The drill is a familiar one for Starrett.

"We've been to his court a number of times," Helfrich said of the
operation run by Starrett. "We basically modeled our operation after
his."

Helfrich has another tie to the judge.

Starrett's daughter, Leah Claire Bennett, a doctoral student in
psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, volunteers her
time to provide free evaluations for drug court participants.

About 637 offenders who have drug and alcohol abuse problems are
currently participating in the state's drug courts.

The Forrest-Perry Drug Court has more than 80 participants.

Starrett said he knows how the drug court is operating in the 14th
Circuit because he calls Pike County weekly for an update.

With no successor named for his circuit position, Starrett keeps up
with the drug operation in Pike County.

"I care about this program because it works and I don't want to see
the district lose it," Starrett said.
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