Drug Court

[ Referrals ] [ Contact ] [ Meeting Times ]
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A drug court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives. The intended purpose of the drug court is to punish non-violent offenders less harshly than incarceration but more harshly than probation while reducing the need for construction of new prisons. Participants undergo long-term treatment and counseling, sanctions, incentives, and frequent court appearances. Successful completion of the treatment program results in dismissal of the charges, reduced or set aside sentences, lesser penalties, or a combination of these. Most importantly, graduating participants gain the necessary tools to rebuild their lives. Because the problem of drugs and crime is much too broad for any single agency to tackle alone, drug courts rely upon the daily communication and cooperation of judges, court personnel, probation, and treatment providers.

Circuit Judge Prentiss G. Harrell established the 15th Judicial District Drug Court of Mississippi in December 2007. The Drug Court Program serves Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, and Pearl River Counties.

Key Components

  • Incorporating drug testing into case processing.
  • Creating a non-adversarial relationship between the defendant and the court.
  • Identifying defendants in need of treatment and referring them to treatment as soon as possible after arrest.
  • Providing access to a contiuum of treatment and rehabilitation services.
  • Monitoring abstinence through frequent, mandatory drug testing.
  • Establishing a coordinated strategy to govern drug court responses to participants' compliance.
  • Maintaining and evaluating program goals and gauging their effectiveness.
  • Continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective drug court planning, implementation, and operations.
  • Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations to generate local support and enhance drug court effectiveness.

Requirements

If ALL of the following statements are true a person may apply to be part of the Drug Court Program. Because there are a limited number of places available in Drug Court other factors may be considered.

  • Given a recommendation by the county District Attorney and arresting agency.
  • They have a drug and/or alcohol problem.
  • They are charged with a felony.
  • They are not charged with a crime of violence.
  • They are not charged with a sex crime.
  • They are not charged with distribution, sale, possession with intent to distribute, production, maufacture, or cultivation of a controlled substance.
  • They have not been convicted of a sex crime or crime of violence in the past.
  • They have not been convicted of distribution, sale, possession with intent to distribute, production, Manufacture, or cultivation of a controlled substance.

Referrals

The 15th Judicial District Drug Court determines acceptance of participants based on an intensive screening procedure in conjunction with Pine Belt Mental Health Services. In order to qualify, a participant must meet all eligibility requirements under the Alyce Griffin Clark Drug Act, MCA § 9-23 (Download Drug Act). We also evaluate participants' potential for acceptance based on recommendations from our District Attorney's office as well as local law enforcement. To print and submit the referral form, please click on the following link (print through your browser, or save to computer and print). Fax completed referral form to 601-796-8511 (Download Referral Form).

Contact

Hon. Prentiss Harrell, Drug Court Judge
Frankie Glennis-Watts, Drug Court Coordinator (Email)

Drug Court Office
PO Box 607
Purvis, MS 39475

Phone: 601-796-8510
Fax: 601-796-8511

Meeting Times

Drug court meets every Thursday in the following locations:

Pearl River County 8:00 AM
Marion County 12:15 PM
Jefferson Davis County 2:30 AM
Lamar County 5:00 PM