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Liberty gets money for drug court
Jack Kingston 8 05
U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., announced recently that Liberty County has received $203,000 in funding through the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program. The grant will be used to start the Liberty County Drug Court program which will target all adult offenders with a drug or substance abuse problem.
“I commend Liberty County for establishing this program,” Kingston said. “This funding will allow the county to implement treatment and effective case management for inmates with chemical dependencies.”
Georgia has shown through a need assessment study that Liberty County is at high risk for drug and alcohol related arrests and motor vehicle accidents. Approximately 35 percent of inmates at the Liberty County jail are booked on drug offenses and the total number of inmates booked into the jail from 2005 until 2007 has risen almost 32.6 percent; this dramatic increase prompted the county request the funding so they can respond adequately to the needs of inmates with chemical dependencies.
“This grant will allow us to continue with our mission of reducing substance abuse and related criminal activity by providing quality, holistic substance abuse treatment,” Superior Court Judge Jay Stewart said.  “We will in turn be able to create a safer community environment.  I sincerely believe in the mission of drug court and the positive impact it will have on the lives of participants.”
The county will use the funding from the grant to pay for office supplies, drug testing kits and contracts for confirming the results of drugs tests among other supplies.  The grant will also pay for medical treatment, life skills classes and counseling for drug court participants.  The court will implement an information management system for effective case management and will undergo a formal evaluation of their processes in order to determine how they can improve in the court’s operation.
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