IT'S OFFICIAL: DRUG COURT BEGINS WORK IN TERREBONNE

More than three years ago, Terrebonne Parish court officials first sought
to divert drug offenders from the traditional court system into one geared
toward treating the drug problem that landed them in trouble in the first
place.

Monday afternoon, court, parish and hospital officials signed the paperwork
that will make the alternative court system a reality.

While cameras flashed, District Judge Johnny Walker, District Attorney Joe
Waitz Jr., District Judge Jimmy Gaidry and Chabert Medical Center
Administrator Danny Trahan signed an intergovernmental agreement between
parish government and the hospital.

The agreement gives hospital space to Drug Court administrators and
provides counseling facilities and medical services to those sentenced by
the judge.

"This is very exciting," Waitz said. "Chabert has come on board and is
supporting us 110 percent."

Waitz predicted that cooperation between government, parish and medical
communities will make the local drug program one of the best in the state.

Walker said the alternative court system, which he will preside over, is
designed for nonviolent offenders charged with drug-related crimes.

Instead of prison time, participants undergo treatment and counseling and
agree to frequent and random drug testing as part of an intensive 18-week
program.

"This is unique because it blends treatment with the criminal-justice
system," Walker said. "Our goal is to make a whole individual and help them
deal with their addiction."

The Terrebonne court is one of about 1,000 drug courts established in the
United States since 1989.

Waitz said drug courts have made a difference in other parts of the
country, and he hopes to see a similar impact locally.

"We have people in the parish who get arrested, go to jail and come out six
months later with the same problem," he said. "We're hoping to get to the
root of the problem and solve their addiction."

The Terrebonne Drug Court was established through a $498,000 Department of
Justice grant. The grant, awarded last summer, will defray costs for the
first three years. About 20 participants will go through each of the
program's three, six-month phases of counseling, court monitoring and drug
testing.

To enter the court, drug-offenders must be first-time violators and agree
to plead guilty. Officials screen interested parties and choose the ones
they think will benefit.

Drug Court administrators and elected officials will hold a grand-opening
ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday on the hospital lawn.

Speakers will include John Weimer, a state Supreme Court justice from
Thibodaux who helped start a drug court in Lafourche Parish; and Cary Heck,
director of the state drug court program.