Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006
Source: Herald News (IL)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald News
Contact:  http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1308
Author: Cindy Wojdyla Cain, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

FINDING FUNDS FOR DRUG COURT

Conviction Fees: Hike Would Pay For Expanded Program

JOLIET - Will County Drug Court has successfully  graduated many 
participants back into society since its  inception in 1999.

The problem in recent years has been funding.

For the first three years, a federal grant funded the  program, which 
allows convicted drug addicts and  alcohol abusers the option of 
treatment instead of  jail. But the grant ran out in 2001, and the 
program  has been limping along since with smaller grants and  local 
contributions.

Now there's a new funding possibility. Two new state  laws allow 
counties to hike fees on several types of  convictions by $5 or $10. 
Counties can opt to enact one  fee or both.

Saving Money

Julie McCabe-Sterr, the county's drug court  coordinator, gave a 
lengthy presentation to the county  board's judicial committee 
Tuesday explaining how drug  court actually saves the county money by 
reducing the  jail population and cutting recidivism, which leads 
to  a safer community.

The program also helps people, many of them  professionals or 
tradespeople, kick their addictions so  they can reclaim their jobs 
and families, she said.

McCabe-Sterr estimated the county has saved $3.4  million since the 
drug court started and it could save  another $14 million over the 
next five years if an  expanded program financed by the fee hike is approved.

As part of the program expansion, McCabe-Sterr said the  county 
should create its own eight-to 10-bed recovery  house. McCabe-Sterr 
and Chief Judge Stephen White have  already scouted locations for 
such a house in Joliet,  Crest Hill and unincorporated Joliet 
Township, she said.

Passing On The Cost

The county board would have to vote to increase the  fees. 
McCabe-Sterr recommended the full $15 increase.  That would generate 
an estimated $644,000 in income for  the program.

The fees would apply to all felony, misdemeanor and  aggravated 
traffic convictions; ordinance violations;  and traffic convictions 
not paid by mail.

Minority Leader Margie Woods, D-Joliet, who sits on the  judicial 
committee, asked for more time to study the  many charts and graphs 
McCabe-Sterr presented at the  meeting.

Committee Chairwoman Ann Dralle, R-Lemont, said the  proposal also 
would have to pass through the county  board's finance and executive 
committees for review.

Participants in the drug court program have to agree to  visit 
probation officers periodically, make weekly or  biweekly court 
appearances and submit to random drug  tests. Participants also must 
stay employed or in  school.

"We're not easy on these people," McCabe-Sterr said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman