Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2008
Source: Mississippi Press, The (MS)
Copyright: 2008 Mississippi Press
Contact:  http://www.gulflive.com/mississippipress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2254
Author: Veto F. Roley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

COUNTY TO START YOUTH DRUG COURT

PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County youth judges and  prosecutors will have 
another option for handling cases  beginning April 1, with the 
opening of a new youth drug  court.

While Jackson County judges hearing cases involving  adults have 
established drug court policies, youth  court judges did not have that option.

"It's a very important program for Jackson County,"  said Youth Court 
Judge Sharon Sigalas, who said that a  number of cases before her are 
the result of juveniles  using drugs.

The youth drug court will cost about $250,000, with  most of the 
funding coming from the state, according to  Jackson County Youth 
Court administrator Cynthia  Wilson. She said the court is designed 
for about 40  juvenile offenders.

The program will have four new employees -- a  coordinator, case 
manager and two treatment counselors.

Wilson said the grant for drug court is for $240,000,  which is based 
on $6,000 per offender.

The county would be required to pay additional costs,  such as most 
office and testing supplies.

Sigalas said the program is for first-time, non-violent  offenders. 
The program will require mandatory  counseling for the offender's 
parents to try to  determine the reason behind the drug use before 
the juvenile offender ends up in adult court, she said.

"We are going to try to teach offenders different  approaches to 
handling things," she said. "We want to  help kids choose something 
besides using drugs. It is a  good program for families."

With parents, she said, the court will work to help  develop better 
parenting skills.

"Our job is to try to prevent kids from graduating to  the adult 
system," Sigalas said. "This is another tool  to do that job."

Sigalas said the two primary causes of juvenile drug  abuse in 
Jackson County are peer pressure and boredom.

"Those are the two most common excuses," she said. "We  don't have a 
lot for kids to do and what we are  offering, they are not interested in."

Wilson told the Board of Supervisors on Monday that  approving the 
program means they agree to pay for the  items the state grant does 
not provide.

"If we need it, you will support it," she said.

Wilson also said that the county is responsible for the  initial 
payments of youth drug court costs. Once the  payments are made, she 
said the state grant would  reimburse the county.

"It's the same procedure as (adult) drug court,"  Sigalas said.
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