WEST POINT — Clay County’s drug court is growing by the month.
Edward Houston, drug court director, delivered another positive report to the West Point Board of Selectmen Tuesday night, noting increased participation and rehabilitation successes.
The drug court, which began at the beginning of November, has 16 participants. By the end of the year, Houston expects to have 30 participants — the annual minimum mandated by the Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts, which supplied a $50,000 grant to fund the program.
Houston said one client has already found a job and three others have had interviews. Four more are enrolled in GED classes.
“We’ve grown so quickly,” Houston said. “Drug court is helping a lot of people get on the right track. We’ve also found additional grant money to help with the GED classes. Things are going well. We’re taking a lot of calls right now.”
Participants spend a minimum of a year in the program, which includes an assessment from a drug counselor and inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Participants must plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge before being evaluated. A board that comprises American Nurses Association counselors and Community Counseling representatives makes a recommendation to the drug court judge, who then decides enrollment in the program or jail time.
The program includes a curfew and random drug testing each week. Participants with misdemeanor marijuana charges can have the charges expunged from their records if they complete the program. DUI charges cannot be expunged.
“We provide group therapy and require them to attend AA meetings,” Houston said. “The big thing is they must pay their fine to successfully complete the course.”
As drug court participation grows past the first year, so will the level of funding from the state court agency. The program is already using courtrooms and offices at Clay County Justice Court to hold therapy sessions and would likely need more space as the program grows, Houston said.
Additional funding from the city and county would help, too, though Houston didn’t make the request to the board.
“I haven’t got that far as far as an amount,” Houston said, “but the more money we have the less that will come out of our clients’ pockets. More money helps us put in more services for the community.
“We came to the (Clay County) supervisors at the last minute, but they’ve been cooperative and accommodating in areas we need it.”
The city of Columbus also offers a drug court program, and the 16th Circuit Court District, which includes Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties has a drug court.
In other matters, the board:
n Approved typographical revisions to the city’s alcohol sales and peddlers ordinances.
n Named Dwight Prisock the city water and light superintendent.
n Appointed Carolyn Poston to the housing authority board and Pete O’Shea to the planning commission.
n Approved a $100,000 bid from Grindline Skateparks Inc. to construct a skate park in Marshall Park.
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