Administrative Office of Courts
Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals elects officers Tracy Swafford of Cleveland was elected president of the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals May 10 during the organization’s eighth annual statewide conference in Hattiesburg. Swafford is drug court coordinator for the 11th Circuit Drug Court in Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica counties. She previously served as vice-president of MADCP. Hinds County Justice Court Judge Frank Sutton is the new vice-president of MADCP. Judge Sutton supervises the Hinds County Justice Drug Court. Tamela Hardy of Greenville was elected secretary. Hardy is case manager for the 4th Circuit Drug Court in Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties. She previously served as an at-large member of the MADCP Board of Directors. Jackie Chatmon of Jackson was elected treasurer. Chatmon is Transitional Outreach Project Technical Assistance Coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. She previously served as an at-large member of the MADCP Board of Directors. New members of the MADCP Board of Directors are Linda Edison of Jackson, immediate past president of MADCP and director of the drug aftercare and outreach program Improving Quality of Life (IQOL); Sammy Webb of Senatobia, coordinator of the DeSoto County Youth Drug Court; and Jamie Peoples of Moss Point, coordinator of the Jackson County Youth Drug Court. Joey Craft of Clinton, state drug court coordinator, is an ex-officio member of the board. MADCP is made up of about 325 members, including judges, drug court staff, law enforcement, correctional officers and drug treatment providers. May is National Drug Court Month. Mississippi has 43 drug court programs with 3,232 people currently enrolled. That includes 2,525 enrolled in felony adult drug courts, 409 in youth drug courts, 104 in family drug courts and 194 in misdemeanor drug court programs. Drug courts operate in Circuit, Chancery, Youth, Justice and Municipal courts. Drug courts seek to rehabilitate drug-using offenders through drug treatment and intense supervision with drug testing and frequent court appearances. Drug courts offer the incentive of a chance to remain out of jail and be employed, and the sanction of a jail sentence if participants fail to remain drug-free and in compliance with all program requirements. #### |
