AMERICUS -- Drug offenders in Sumter County will have to answer to a new kind of court soon. Drug courts focus on treatment and education rather than prison time, Superior Court Judge John Harper told the Sumter County Commission at the Jan. 13 committee meeting. However, some offenders who commit crimes would need to be in jail. The courts are one of Harper's "campaign promises" from his election. There is currently a drug court in Sumter County, but it focuses more on first-time offenders who have no prior criminal records. The goal has been to expand the court so that it helps the addicts and those with a mental illness in addition to a drug addiction. [continues 1188 words]
AMERICUS -- The Sumter County Commission will make possible a drug court in Sumter County. At the meeting Tuesday, the Commission approved half of the county's Drug Abuse Treatment Education (DATE) program money for an expanded drug court for non-violent users, those users who have not committed a crime in an attempt to get drug money. The money is mandated to go to counties by state law, and it is currently used to fund the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. Commissioner Bill Bowen wanted it made clear in the motion that the money that does not come from the DATE money for the court will be funded by court surcharges, not General Fund money. [end]
