Mississippi drug courts commended by House of Representatives

March 30, 2011

Mississippi: On March 25, 2011, the Mississippi House of Representatives commended the state's drug court program, which has provided an alternative to incarceration in dealing with drug users. The Mississippi Administrative Office of the Courts describes the drug court as "a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives." The first drug court started in 1995. They are now present in 38 different judicial jurisdictions. Many praise these courts for changing the lives of former drug users by providing a rehabilitation program that forces them to undergo treatment, submit to drug testing, and remain accountable to the court regarding their progress. They also say that it is financially better than jail time. The Administrative Office of the Courts claims that the drug courts save approximately $86 million a year in incarceration costs and even generate an extra $2 million in fees. Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. hopes to expand these drug courts statewide eventually.