Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item #___2___

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

January 4, 2005



Agenda report #____2_____



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Salton Antitrust Settlement Funds - Juvenile

Court



INTIATED BY: Juvenile Drug Court

__________________________________________________________________



Recommendation: Authorization is requested to submit an application and if

approved accept a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Salton Antitrust

Settlement Fund distributed through the Attorney General?s Office of the State

of Georgia, for the purpose of providing services for the Columbus/Muscogee

County Juvenile Drug Court Program and amend the Multi-Governmental fund for

the awarded/approved amount.



Background: Beginning in 1999, the Columbus Juvenile Court became actively

interested in combating teen drug use in our area through a Juvenile Drug Court

Initiative. The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice made grant funds

available for a collaborative team from Muscogee County to visit operating

juvenile drug courts in the region and to attend training sessions on a

national level. The team was comprised of representatives from the Courts, the

Public Defender?s Office, the District Attorney?s Office, the Muscogee County

School District and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment

specialists.



In 2000, the Muscogee County Juvenile Court began a pilot program Juvenile Drug

Court. The pilot program was an opportunity to develop a model for a Muscogee

County Juvenile Drug Court. This model proved quite successful for the few

juveniles who participated in the pilot.



In February 2001, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the

Muscogee County Juvenile Court to apply for federal funds in order to implement

a Juvenile Drug Court.



On September 1, 2001, the Muscogee County Juvenile Court was awarded $473,857

in federal funds to implement a Juvenile Drug Court, one of the largest awards

in the nation that year. Approximately $125,000 was provided from the Juvenile

Drug Court Team members, the Columbus Consolidated Government and the local

business community in the form of an In-Kind match.



Since becoming fully operational, the Juvenile Drug Court has provided drug

court services for 225 youth with drug and alcohol problems. There has been a

dramatic drop in the average number of adjudicated offenses with active

participation in drug court. Having graduated 90 participants, only 3 have

re-offended with only one being re-adjudicated. The recidivism rate for

juveniles who graduated from the program is .03%. The positive impact on the

families served is immeasurable. Parents who feared for their children now

have hopes for a bright future.



The federal funding from this grant has allowed Juvenile Court to hire a

part-time Drug Court Director, two case managers and two part-time

administrative specialists, dedicated to the Juvenile Drug Court. It has also

paid for treatment, individual/family counseling, tutoring and random drug

screens for the program.



The Juvenile Drug Court in Columbus is truly a collaborative effort fully

involving the Juvenile Courts, the Public Defender?s Officer, the District

Attorney?s Office, Probation Services, the Police Department, the Muscogee

County School District, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment

specialists, local businesses, the ArtsReach Program and families.



The Salton Antitrust Settlement Fund will provide continuation funding for drug

court treatment programs that have been funded through federal grants. The

funding will be for two years, starting March 2005 through March 2007.



Analysis: The Muscogee County Juvenile Drug Court has had a positive effect on

the juveniles and families served in particular and the community at-large in

general by reducing juvenile drug use, juvenile criminal activity and

encouraging participants to become productive members of society. As one of the

original Juvenile Drug Courts in the State of Georgia, the status of the

Muscogee County Juvenile Court is raised. The citizens of Columbus can be proud

of the work their community is doing to ensure children have the opportunity to

live up to their full potential.



Financial Considerations: The Salton Antitrust Settlement Fund does not

require a cash match.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government has been notified

of its eligibility to receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the Mayor to accept a grant from the Salton

Antitrust Settlement Fund distributed through the Attorney General?s Office of

the State of Georgia, for the purpose of providing services for the Juvenile

Drug Court Program and amend the Multi-Governmental fund for the

awarded/approved amount.