To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Muscogee County Adult Drug Court

Initiator

Superior Court

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit and, if approved, accept a three year grant of \n \n $350,000 from the Department of Justice for the operation of the Muscogee \n \n County Adult Drug Court and amend the Multi-Govermental Fund for the \n \n awarded/approved amount of the federal portion and a local match for the three \n \n year period of $116,667 for a total of $466,667. Authorize the creation of two \n \n grant funded positions in the Multi-Governmental Fund for a Adult Drug Court \n \n Administrator and a Adult Drug Court Case Worker.

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. Utilizing grant funds from the Georgia

Administrative Office of the Courts ($50,000) and a Byrne Grant ($14,000), we

began operation on October 1, 2007. At present, we have 14 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 three year period.

Financial Considerations

Total program costs are estimated to be $466,667. The federal portion will be

$350,000 and the local match will be $166, 667.A breakdown of estimated

expenditures is as follows:



Director $34,555

Case Worker $31,000

Treatment

Evaluations (Physical and Psychological) 60 participants x $100 each $ 6,000

Drugs Tests

12 Month Treatment Program 20 participants x $700 each $14,000

18 Month Treatment Program 20 participants x $14,00 each $28,000

24 Month Treatment Program 20 participants x $2100 each $42,000



Total Cost Per Year $155,555



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

40% (60 participants) will need financial assistance for treatment. We

estimate that one third of these individuals will enter each of the programs

for 12 months, 18 months and 24 months.

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 three year

grant of $350,000 from the Department of Justice for the operation of the

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

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

year period of $116,667. Authorize the creation of two grant funded positions

in the Multi-Governmental Fund for a Adult Drug Court Administrator and a Adult

Drug Court Case Worker.









A RESOLUTION



NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE U. S. DEPARTMENT

OF JUSTICE, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOTAL OF $350,000 OVER A THREE

YEAR PERIOD AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT FUNDS TO OPERATE AN ADULT DRUG COURT IN

MUSCOGEE COUNTY AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BUDGET BY A LIKE AMOUNT

AND TO AUTHORIZE A TRANSFER IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF $116,667 ($38,889 PER

YEAR) AS A LOCAL CASH MATCH AND CREATE TWO FUNDED POSITIONS IN THE

MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANAGING THE ADULT DRUG COURT

PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, funds have been made available from the Department of Justice for

implementing an adult drug courts; and,

WHEREAS, the Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible for up to $350,000 in

federal funds over a three year period; and,

WHEREAS, a Drug Court Team was formed approximately one year ago to review the

operation of drug courts in other jurisdictions and to develop an

implementation process for an Adult Drug Court in Muscogee County; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of Justice requires a 25% match for a total cash match

of $116,667 over a three year period which will be provided by the Columbus

Consolidated Government from the General Fund Contingency Budget, which make

the total amount $466,667.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY

RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to:

-- Submit and, if approved, accept a grant from the Department of

Justice for $350,000 to fund a three year Muscogee County Adult Drug Court; and,

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

transfer $116,667 over a three year period from the General Fund Contingency

Budget as a local cash match for a total funding of $466,667; and,

-- Create two grant funded positions in the multi-governmental fund for

the purpose of managing the Muscogee County Adult Drug Court Program.

___________

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 Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.



___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor

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