To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Muscogee County Adult Felony Drug Court

Initiator

Superior Court

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit and, if approved, accept a two year grant of \n \n $200,000 from the Department of Justice for the operation of the Muscogee \n \n County Adult Felony Drug Court and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund for the \n \n awarded/approved amount of the federal portion and a local match for the two \n \n year period of $66,667 for a total of $266,667.

Approval

Approved

Background

The emergence of crack cocaine in the mid-1980's has had an unprecedented and

dramatic impact on the Nation's criminal justice system. The influx of drug

offenders into the system has severely strained the court's ability to dispose

of the massive number of cases. In 1989, troubled by the devastating impact of

drugs and drug-related crimes on their criminal justice system, several

communities began experimenting with an approach to low-level drug offenses

that brought significant changes to the way the court system does business.

The new approach integrated substance abuse treatment, sanctions and provide

incentives with case processing to place nonviolent drug-involved defendants in

judicially supervised treatment programs.



Since 1989, more than 1000 courts have implemented a drug court to address the

problem of substance abuse and drug related crime. Congress joined local

communities in acknowledging the promise of drug courts to rehabilitate

offenders, hold offenders accountable for their actions, and reduce

victimization by intervening soon after arrest. The Adult Drug Courts help

reduce recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent offenders and increase

an offender's likelihood of successful rehabilitation through early,

continuous, and judicially supervised treatment, mandatory periodic drug

testing, community supervision, and appropriate sanctions and incentives.

There are 67 Adult Drug Courts in Georgia.



Our Drug Court Team was formed in February of 2007 and has been working to

develop an effective Drug Court Program for our government. Our team has been

involved in training, attending conferences and reviewing the operation of

other drug courts in Georgia. We are utilizing grant funds from the Georgia

Administrative Office of the Courts ($28,000). DATE Funds ($15,000) and a Byrne

Grant ($9,000), At present, we have 36 participants in the Adult Drug Court

Program. In order to expand this program and add additional elements, the

court will need additional funding.

Analysis

The Muscogee County Adult Drug Court has a positive effect on substance

abusers, their families and the community at large by reducing drug usage,

reducing criminal activity and encouraging participants to become productive

members of society. It provides an opportunity for individuals to recover from

addiction, raise their self esteem, and give hope for the future. The funding

for this program will be for a two year period.

Financial Considerations

Total program costs are estimated to be $266,667. The federal portion will be

$200,000 and the local match will be $66, 667. A breakdown of estimated

expenditures is as follows:





Treatment 60 participants @ $850.00 each $ 51,000

Drugs Tests 60 participants @ $250 $ 15,000

Individual Counseling $ 9,000

Special Needs (dental, medical, health, evaluation & testing) $ 9,134

Residential 10 participants @ $1,900 $ 19,000

Automated Data Collection System ( estimate) $ 3,000

Program Evaluation (estimate) $ 4,000

Training - Required under grant guidelines for certification $ 23,200



Total Cost Per Year $133,334



We estimate that the program will have approximately 150 participants and that

40% (60 participants) will need a varying degrees of financial assistance for

treatment.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

The Columbus Consolidated Government is the legal entity authorized to accept

funding for this program.

Recommendations/ Actions

Authorize the City Manager to submit and, if approved, accept a two year grant

of $200,000 from the U. S. Department of Justice for the operation of the

Muscogee County Adult Drug Court and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund for the

awarded/approved amount of the federal portion and a local match for the two

year period of $66,667.





A RESOLUTION

NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT A

$200,000 GRANT FROM THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUREAU OF JUSTICE

ASSISTANCE OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD TO ENHANCE THE OPERATING AN ADULT FELONY

DRUG COURT IN MUSCOGEE COUNTY AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BUDGET BY A

LIKE AMOUNT AND AUTHORIZE A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF $66,667, ($33,334

PER YEAR) AS A LOCAL CASH MATCH .

WHEREAS, funds have been made available from the U. S. Department of Justice

for enhancing adult drug courts; and,

WHEREAS, the Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible for up to $200,000 in

federal funds over a two year period; and,

WHEREAS, the Adult Felony Drug Court Team was formed approximately two years

ago to oversee the operation of the Adult Drug Court Program; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of Justice requires a match of $66,667 over a two-year

period.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

I.

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an application

and, if approved, accept a grant from the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau

of Justice Assistance for $200,000 to funds a two year enhancement program for

the Muscogee Adult Felony Drug Court; and,

II.

Amend the Multi-Governmental Fund Budget by a like amount and transfer

$66,667 over a two year period ($33,334 per year) from the General Fund

Contingency Budget as a local match.

___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held

the

_________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative

vote of

_____________members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.



___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor

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