The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed 14th Circuit CourtJudge Michael M. Taylor to the State Drug Court AdvisoryCommittee.

Taylor’s term on the committee began on Aug. 10 and continuesthrough Dec. 31, 2007. He replaced Hinds County Court Judge MikeParker, who was recently appointed as a U.S. Magistrate Judge forthe Southern District of Mississippi.

Taylor, of Brookhaven, said drug courts benefit the participantsand the community.

“It gives the participants the structure and the resources tochange their lives while at the same time allowing them to beproductive members of their community and able to fulfill theirresponsibilities,” he said. “The state saves a lot of money by notincarcerating these people, and the counties are able to get theirfines and court costs paid. If these people were just locked up,the counties would likely never see these fines and fees.”

The State Drug Court Advisory Committee was established by theMississippi Legislature to recommend improvements to drug courtpolicies and procedures.

Mississippi has 16 drug courts.

Drug courts are special courts which seek to rehabilitatedrug-using offenders through drug treatment and intense supervisionwith drug testing and frequent court appearances. Drug courts offerthe incentive of a chance to remain out of jail, and the sanctionof a jail sentence if participants fail to remain drug-free and incompliance with all program requirements.

Participants are required to work. If they dropped out ofschool, they must pursue a General Education Development (GED)degree.

The program also receives fees for providing drug testing forlocal schools, a community college and some governmentagencies,

Taylor said.

The 14th Circuit Drug Court over which Taylor presides is thestate’s oldest. Former Circuit Judge Keith Starrett established theDrug Court program in Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties in1999.