Pubdate: Fri, 01 Apr 2005
Source: St. Augustine Record (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The St. Augustine Record
Contact:  http://www.staugustine.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/771
Author: Lory Pounder, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

DRUG COURT FUNDS RUN LOW

St. Johns County drug court celebrated its first 2005 graduation Wednesday,
but through the excitement a future challenge worried the operations team.

A one-time $500,000 federal grant used for drug court will run out by
October and other funding will need to be found to keep the program
alive.

"This is the only thing I have ever done in 22 years of being a judge
that I really thought made a difference in people's lives," said
retired Circuit Court judge Robert Mathis.

Mathis is so inspired by drug court success stories that he plans to
donate $1 for every $2 the community contributes up to $50,000.

The program recently received non-profit status and Mathis encouraged
graduation attendants to spread the word about the need for donations,
but a formal campaign has not been launched.

Drug court began in St. Johns County in November 2002. Since then,
nearly 20 people have made it through the intense rehabilitation program.

"We give them their lives back," Mathis said. He added that the best
part of drug court is seeing the participants reconnect with their
families.

About $51,000 was requested from the county's budget to support the
administrative costs of drug court, officials said.

"We're hoping the county and state will help, but they're always going
to need more money," Mathis said.

Dr. Pamela King, licensed mental health counselor and clinical
director at EPIC Community Services, is concerned about losing
treatment funding.

She said EPIC's grant writer has been diligently seeking money for
three months and applied to the state for help a few weeks ago.

"It's a community problem," King said. "It doesn't just affect the
person addicted."

People with addictions are often arrested for thefts, burglaries or
writing bad checks to support their habits, she said. Also, three
babies have been born drug free in the program.

"We're really building a positive community as well as taking out the
negative influence," King said.

St. Augustine Police officer Renee Morris said what she has seen with
drug court is "just short of a miracle."

"What works about drug court is that prison doesn't work," she said.
"We give them tools to get a new life without drugs or alcohol."

When the program started about three years ago, Morris was skeptical.
Then, the first drug court participant graduated. The person was
someone Morris previously arrested.

Morris described the program as an incredible and enlightening
process. It helps reduce crime, get families back together and make a
more productive community, she said.

Assistant Chief of police Kevin Stark spoke at the graduation. He said
when the program first began he didn't think it would work. Now he
supports it 100 percent.

"I've seen some of those same people who I thought had no chance turn
their lives around," he said.

John Jacobs, who was described as a model participant, became one the
program's latest graduates Wednesday evening in the Alcazar Room at
City Hall.

"It wasn't easy, but usually anything worth it isn't easy," he said.
"And this was worth it."

About eight years ago, Jacobs was put on prescription medicine for an
injury and became addicted. Jacobs said if it hadn't been for drug
court he probably would have been in prison or in and out of jail.

Today, Jacobs celebrates 527 clean and sober days.

"Drug court gave me that last little nudge I needed to make the
difference," Jacobs said. "My family tells me I'm the person they knew
years ago."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin