Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2008 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) COUNTY RECEIVES FEDERAL MONIES FOR DRUG COURT CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County has received money from the federal government to start a drug court. A $334,480 grant was issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, according to a news release Wednesday from the Kanawha County Commission. The drug court will offer rehabilitative, counseling and job placement services for adult nonviolent offenders facing drug-related charges. "I am excited to take the lead on this program as Chief Judge for Kanawha County and start a new program that will assist nonviolent offenders with rehabilitation and becoming productive citizens, while keeping them out of the overpopulated regional jail," said Chief Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker. The program will attempt to help alcohol and substance abusers recover from addictions while performing community service and developing job skills, the release states. "I believe that the Kanawha County Drug Court will be another useful community corrections mechanism that will help cut regional jail costs and will provide the rehabilitation services that nonviolent offenders need," said Commission President Kent Carper. "The program will work similar to the Kanawha County Day Report Center, but will be for nonviolent offenders that have committed drug-related crimes and will be a more intense rehabilitation program." The County Commission also received a grant of $49,995 from the Office of Justice Program's Justice and Mental Health Program. The funds will be used to determine ways to improve the juvenile mental health system. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom