WEST POINT — By Nov. 1, misdemeanor drug offenders in Clay County will have an alternative to jail time.
Clay County Justice Court is on track to start the pilot year of its drug court program — a state-funded, state-certified diversion program to help people kick drug addiction — following its next court session on Oct. 21.
The Clay County Board of Supervisors last week voted 3-2 to implement the drug court, which will be funded through a $50,000 grant from the Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts. The AOC, which approved the program Sept. 30, will reimburse the county up to $50,000 for expenses accrued during the first year of the drug court. Additionally, the AOC will adjust the level of funding as more participants enroll each year.
The county drug court will handle misdemeanor drug cases only; the 16th Circuit Court District, made up of Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties, has its own felony drug court, which was established over the summer. The 16th Circuit Drug Court began accepting referrals during its July term in Clay County.
Justice Court Judge Thomas Hampton will oversee the drug court.
Drug Court Director Edward Houston said the AOC requires a minimum of 30 participants in the program. Participants will spend a minimum of a year in the program, which will include an assessment from a drug counselor and in-patient or out-patient treatment.
Participants must plead guilty to their charge before being evaluated. A board comprised of American Nurses Association counselors and Community Counseling representatives will make a recommendation to the drug court judge, who’ll then decide on enrollment in the program.
The program will include a curfew and random drug testing each week. Participants with misdemeanor marijuana charges can have the charge expunged from their record if they complete the program. DUI charges cannot be expunged.
“How long a person stays in the program depends on how they’re going through treatments and counseling,” Houston said. “And there’s a lot of positives, outside of treatment. We’re gonna make sure you pay your fines. We’re gonna make sure you get your GED, if you don’t have it. If you don’t have a license, we’ll help you get that. We’re going to do all of this before you leave drug court.”
Annual funding is not guaranteed and will be reimbursed based on performance. The county will have to report the status of participants in the program each month to the AOC, which oversees 41 drug courts in the state.
State Drug Court Coordinator Joey Craft said success, at least at the state level, is measured by the number of drug courts established each year and the number of participants.
Since 2003, when the Mississippi Legislature introduced the Alyce Griffin Clarke Drug Court Act, the state has helped implement between five and six drug courts each year.
“Success comes in many forms,” Craft said. “We want to see consistent growth, but at the local level, it’s keeping people clean and sober and getting families back together. We’ve been very successful with our programs.”
During the last fiscal year, the AOC reimbursed $6.5 million to counties.
Five different drug court programs — all district felony programs — each have more than 200 participants. The 17th Circuit Court District, which includes DeSoto County, leads the state with 267. There are more than 3,000 drug court participants statewide.
Columbus started its own drug court for low-level and first-time felony drug offenders in October 2008.
Oktibbeha County and Starkville do not have a misdemeanor drug court program, though the municipal court has a short-term probation system that includes drug testing and counseling at a judge’s discretion. That program is not state funded.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.