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Juvenile drug court gets funds
By CARRIE JOHNSON
© St. Petersburg Times, INVERNESS -- It was probably a long shot at best. Already struggling to keep the adult drug court program afloat financially, Citrus County officials sought a federal grant that would help launch another drug court, this one for juvenile drug addicts. Thursday, the officials learned they had received $418,960 in government money to create an alternative to jail for young substance abusers. "I think we haven't fully processed it yet," said Circuit Judge Patricia Thomas, who oversees the adult drug court. The grant is part of $31.4-million in funding the Bush administration has promised nationwide to set up drug courts and enhance current programs. Three other Florida counties received funding: Palm Beach County received $500,000 to start an adult drug court; Putnam County was awarded $499,258 to begin a 12-month alcohol and drug addiction treatment program; and Orange County received almost $500,000 to develop a new program at its existing juvenile court. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the grants at a news conference Wednesday at the Orange County Courthouse. "I was completely shocked," said Ray Cox, the coordinator of adult drug court. "It's definitely needed, and I guess the federal government recognized that need, too." The juvenile drug court will be modeled on the adult version, which Citrus County began in June 2000. The 18-month program is open to nonviolent offenders who commit drug-related crimes. The regimen is very rigorous: During the first four weeks, defendants must agree to attend counseling sessions as often as four times a week, submit to urine tests three times a week and keep weekly meetings with the judge. The demands taper off as offenders complete the program, but one thing never changes: Disobey the rules and you'll be back in jail. The aim is to help defendants kick their drug habits and become productive members of society. For juveniles, that mission is even more important, Thomas said. Drug addicts tend to get lost in the criminal justice system, she said. They are in and out of court as they continue to search for ways to fund their habits. With teens, they might be able to break that cycle before it takes root, Thomas said. The juvenile drug court will be open to offenders ages 10 to 17, Cox said. They would be referred to the program by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The grant money will fund the program for three years, Cox said. In addition to paying for urinalysis tests and court costs, the grant will allow Citrus to create three support positions, including a family intervention specialist, a data-entry position and a part-time secretary. In contrast, Cox has been attempting to scrape together funds for the adult drug court. The program was started with a $30,000 federal grant. When that money ran low, Cox applied for another grant but didn't receive it. He asked the members of the County Commission for help; the commission responded, providing $25,000. Since then, Cox has applied for six grants, both private and public, but hasn't received any additional funding. But apparently the federal government was more open to the idea of a juvenile court, Cox said. "If we can catch this problem in the front end, there's no telling what these kids can accomplish," he said."The potential is unlimited." - Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
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Citrus Times Jan Glidewell |
