DRUG COURT EXPANSION WV Drug Court Expansion Delayed Again
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Mar. 20, 2013 5:49 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
The West Virginia House has delayed a bill that would expand the state's very successful drug court program.
Wednesday marked the second time this week that the House Health Committee failed to vote on the proposal, requesting more study.
The proposal would allow the state Supreme Court to shift about $1.4 million in drug treatment programs to the budget of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
The shift would free up money to open five or six new drug courts. The court and DHHR both said the proposal would not require new money.
Drug courts currently operate in 16 of the 31 circuits in West Virginia. Costs for drug courts are less than a third of costs for imprisonment and drug court participants have very low recidivism rates.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
W.Va. girl who refused vaccines marches with class May 24, 2013 4:46 PM EDT A Randolph County girl who was banned from attending school after refusing to get state-mandated vaccinations will take part in her graduation ceremony.
Ohio casino workers in Toledo agree to unionize May 24, 2013 4:56 PM EDT Casino employees in Toledo have voted to unionize, joining two other Ohio casinos that have taken steps to organize.
Associated Press
