Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:13 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:13:20 GMT
Dozens of people came out Tuesday night to voice their concerns about a proposed sales tax increase. The Madison City Council held a meeting at City Hall.More >>
Dozens of people came out Tuesday night to voice their concerns about a proposed sales tax increase. The Madison City Council held a meeting at City Hall.More >>
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:35 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:35:00 GMT
Two brothers are dead after a stabbing at a West Huntsville church. More >>
Two brothers are dead after a stabbing at a West Huntsville church. More >>
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Dozens of drug offenders got a new lease on life thanks to drug court.
Madison County held graduation Monday for more than 30 drug court graduates. The judge who oversees drug court said the program is a win-win situation.
The program addresses the needs of the people, and it saves taxpayers money. Judge Lynn Sherrod said it saves tens of thousand of dollars a year to put a person through drug court instead of just locking them up.
"Drug court saves lives. We can't continue to warehouse people," said Judge Sherrod. "We have overcrowding in the jails, overcrowding in the prisons."
"It costs $2,800 a year for me to keep one person in drug court, but it costs $3,800 a year to keep a person in jail," he continued.
Judge Sherrod said cocaine is the drug of choice for most offenders in Madison County, but she said prescription drugs and meth are rising rapidly in popularity.
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