Drug Court graduates 32 in ceremony

Friday afternoon was graduation day in Hernando. Thirty-two people who agreed to do the Drug Court program instead of jail time.  They received their certificates during a ceremony in the main courtroom of the DeSoto County Courthouse in Hernando.  

Mississippi’s Drug Court program offers an alternative to traditional jail time. It focuses on rehabilitation and recovery, reducing substance abuse and the tendency of a convicted criminal of reoffend, also known as recidivism.

Most Drug Court participants combine judicial supervision and substance abuse treatment.  They take part in counseling, undergo regular drug testing, and attend court sessions on a regular basis to have their progress monitored.  Successful participants may have charges reduced or dismissed upon completion of the program.

Officials say drug courts have been able to reduce the amount of reoffenders. They also become cost-effective to the county. For instance, about $2.5 million were saved to taxpayers by having the participants go through drug court instead of spending time in jail. 

Housing an inmate in prison is much more expensive than providing treatment through a drug court program.

Those who took part in drug court also have to pay fines and about $100,000 in fines were paid. 

Drug courts also offer other activities, such as family counseling, mental health support, and vocational training, which help individuals reintegrate into their communities.

Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann Lamar spoke at Friday’s graduation. Lamar said she and current state Supreme Court Justice Robert “Bobby” Chamberlin helped start Drug Court in the district that includes DeSoto County around 2006.  

“Every (drug) court is different and ours is very different,” Lamar said. “This is one of the most difficult drug courts to go through. I’m proud of every one of you, I know what you did to get here.”  

Lamar noted there is now a drug court in all parts of Mississippi, one in every Circuit District, adding that when it was started, drug court was considered a new concept as a special court to address certain needs.  

A lot of valuable lessons were learned in the process of going through drug court, Lamar said. 

“I want you to remember how far you’ve come,” she told the graduates. “I want you to remember where you were when you started this journey and how hard you had to work to get to this point in your life.” 

Drug courts offer the incentive of a chance to remain out of jail and be employed, and the sanction of a jail sentence if participants fail to remain drug-free and in compliance with all program requirements.

Both Lamar and Chamberlin were Circuit Judges when the program first started in DeSoto County in 2006. Ten DeSoto County offenders were part of that first drug court program.