Republican Gov. Phil Bryant and Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood disagree on a lot of things, but they are on the same page when it comes to funding drug court.
The governor has proposed more funding for the courts, and the attorney general has asked that $7 million in funds the state has received in lawsuits be allocated to drug courts, according to Circuit Judge Mike Taylor who says the Mississippi Supreme Court also is an advocate of drug courts.
But so far the Mississippi Legislature, which has pushed for all 22 of the state’s circuit court districts to operate drug courts, has not adequately funded them.
Taylor, speaking to the McComb Rotary Club Wednesday, said the House has passed legislation allocating $4 million to drug courts, the Senate has passed nothing and the matter is now being considered in a conference committee composed of members of the two branches.
Taylor says at least $7 million is needed to adequately run the courts.
One of two judges in the local 14th Judicial District, composed of Pike, Walthall and Lincoln Counties, Taylor also serves on the state Drug Advisory Council.
Drug court is an alternative sentencing method where defendants charged with felonies — if their crimes are thought to be related to substance abuse — are given an opportunity to go through an intense rehabilitation program where they are subjected to frequent testing for the use of drugs and alcohol.
Adults have to pay for their own treatment.
Since they have pleaded guilty to a felony — which is held in abeyance by the court — they go to prison if they are kicked out of drug court. Taylor says that’s a great incentive to complete the course.
It’s a “behavior modification program” that has about a 70 percent success rate, he said.
The first drug court in Mississippi was pioneered by former Circuit Judge Keith Starrett in the 14th District and soon was expanded to a few other counties.
The state assesses a $10 fee on criminal convictions, including traffic tickets, to fund drug court.
That once was enough, with a limited number of courts, but now that it is statewide it isn’t.
Moreover, drug courts have been expanded to juveniles and also are envisioned as part of the recently enacted judicial reforms aimed at reducing the growth of the state’s prison population.
“We’re going to need more money,” Taylor said.
