On Tuesday, Bill Waller, Jr., the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, was in town to speak to the Columbus Rotary Club and he devoted much of his time talking about two subjects – the state’s electronic court system and its drug court program.
While he spoke enthusiastically about both programs, he failed to note his own role in creating and promoting both. Perhaps modesty prevented him for taking the credit those familiar with the programs say he deserves.
Or maybe Waller recognizes that the focus should be on the programs themselves.
The electronic court system has obvious merit, but it is the drug court that has the greatest impact on the lives of Mississippians. As of this year, there are 40 drug courts in Mississippi and drug courts are found in every circuit court district in the state.
In addition, the city of Columbus also has a municipal court drug court under the direction of municipal judge Mark Amos.
The drug court program allows non-violent offenders charged with drug offenses to avoid prison time and the felony conviction that can haunt them the rest of their lives. It’s no easy path, however. Those who go through the program must plead guilty to their charges, stay out of jail, have a job and submit to an intensive probation that includes regular drug-tests and restrictions on where they can go.
They must remain sober and drug-free. If they meet all requirements, they leave the program with a clean record and a real chance for a healthy, crime-free life.
Waller notes that about half of the state’s prison population are sentenced on drug-related charges. Some, of course, are violent offender, but many — perhaps most — are not. It is this segment of the population that the drug courts seek to reach.
Waller notes that housing a prisoner is far, far more expensive than putting that offender in the drug court program. Those in the drug court program work, which means they can pay fines and restitution — Waller says the 3,500 offenders in the program have paid more than $1 million in those fees this year.
In addition, Waller says, those who complete the program successfully are three times more likely to stay out of prison than those drug felons who don’t have access to the program. That, he said, makes all Mississippians safer.
Like his father, Bill Waller — Mississippi’s 55th governor (1972-76) — Waller has demonstrated compassion for those who might be cast aside or ignored.
His father was known for his efforts in the Civil Rights arena, first as a prosecutor and later as governor, where he was known for providing key positions to blacks in his administration.
While drugs are an equal-opportunity killer of dreams, they have taken a particular toll in the black community, especially among the poor.
Waller’s efforts in promoting the use of drug courts, then, is particularly important to this often marginalized and demonized segment of our population.
Some district attorneys now are quick to send qualified candidates to the drug courts instead of prison. Some are not, fearing their reputations as being “tough on crime” would suffer.
Better, though, to be “smart on crime.”
The drug court, as Waller so passionately insists, is the best example of that latter approach.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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