Pubdate: Tue, 04 Dec 2007
Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, MS)
Copyright: 2007 Journal Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.djournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/823
Author: Errol Castens, Daily Journal Oxford Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

LAFAYETTE BOARD BACKS PROPOSED DRUG COURT

OXFORD - The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors gave  their support
Monday to a proposed drug court for the  state's Third Judicial
District. The supervisors agreed  to front the costs of the drug court
and be reimbursed  monthly from state-appropriated funds.

The drug court, which would begin experimentally in  Lafayette County
before possibly expanding to Tippah,  Union, Benton, Marshall, Calhoun
and Chickasaw  counties, would provide selected offenders a chance to
get off drugs and avoid prison.

"It's going to treat an addiction," said Third District  Attorney Ben
Creekmore. "The reality is, a lot of these  people are at a
crossroads. If they don't go down the  right path, they'll end up
costing the taxpayers a  whole lot of money."

Not every drug offender will have the opportunity:  Arresting agencies
must approve participation,  Creekmore said, and each applicant will
be screened by  a behaviorist. The program requires at minimum a
three-year commitment to outpatient addiction  treatment, whose costs
are to be paid by each  participant.

"The drug court is designed to take those people who,  with a little
intensive supervision as well as the  incentive to avoid criminal
charges, can become  drug-free," Creekmore said.

Seventeenth Judicial District Attorney John Chamberlain  said the
program headquartered in DeSoto County has  succeeded beyond his
expectations.

"A little over a year ago I went out to Texas for the  federal
training program, and I was a little  skeptical," he said. "I came out
of there so excited  about the possibilities.

"We've got letters from some of the folks who say it  was the best
thing that ever happened to them,"  Chamberlain said.

Judge Andy Howorth of the Third District said that any  success rate
at all would mean "we're going to be  taking addicts and making them
productive, tax-paying  citizens."
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