State of Mississippi Judiciary

Hinds Circuit Drug Court graduation set for May 28

May 24, 2019

Rep. Alyce Griffin Clarke will be honored during the Hinds Circuit Drug Court graduation ceremony on May 28. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Hinds County Courthouse at 407 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson.

Thirteen people are expected to graduate from the Drug Court. Circuit Judge Winston Kidd, who oversees the Hinds Circuit Drug Court, will preside. The ceremony will be the 48th graduation exercise for the state’s second oldest felony drug court.

Rep. Clarke helped found the Hinds Circuit Drug Court, which began in 2000, and was a pioneer of drug courts statewide. Legislation passed in 2003 that established a framework for drug courts statewide is known as the Alyce Griffin Clarke Drug Court Act.

May is National Drug Court Month, a celebration of the work of problem-solving courts that save lives and tax dollars. The state has 40 drug courts, including 22 adult felony programs, three adult misdemeanor programs, 12 juvenile drug courts and three family drug courts.

Drug courts seek to rehabilitate drug-using offenders through drug treatment and intense supervision with drug testing and frequent court appearances. Drug courts provide participants access to resources and opportunities they need by coordinating the efforts of the judiciary, prosecution, defense counsel, probation, law enforcement, treatment, mental health and social service providers. This interdisciplinary approach offers participants the opportunity to become productive, law abiding citizens, which reduces recidivism and provides for healthier communities.

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