Joe Kafka, The Associated Press | Posted: Sunday, June 17, 2007 11:00 pm
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PIERRE - A special drug-court program will be ready in the
northern Black Hills by July 1 as part of an effort to deal with
the rising use of methamphetamines, the Legislature's Joint
Appropriations Committee was told Monday.
The one-year pilot project by the state court system will
closely supervise the rehabilitation of people who have been
arrested for nonviolent drug crimes.
Lawmakers have provided $212,000 for the pilot project.
Three employees will be added to the court system for the
effort. Northern Hills Alcohol and Drug Services in Sturgis will
assess candidates for the program and provide treatment.
Legislators also were told that 11 of 63 inmates of the
women's prison at Pierre have failed an intensive methamphetamine
drug treatment program since it began last summer.
Laurie Feiler, deputy state corrections secretary, said
several of those who failed the program had disciplinary
problems.
The Legislature has provided $2.9 million for the meth
treatment program at the prison, which is done in four
stages.
The final stages involve moving to a halfway house and
eventually being released on parole. Feiler said those inmates are
closely monitored for drug use.
"When they are first out in the community, we are testing them
every three days," she said.
Meth is most commonly smoked or inhaled. The drug initially
brings on euphoria, but later causes irritability, paranoia and
hallucinations.
About 42 percent of women coming into the state prison have
used meth, Feiler said. Those who are recommended for the treatment
program must participate or their parole status will be affected,
she said.
"It's technically voluntary, but there's consequences for
choices," Feiler said.
The state Human Services and Health departments are working
with the Corrections Department on the treatment program.
