Former Atlanta-area prosecutor Rand Csehy was arrested last week on drug charges. He formerly prosecuted people accused of the same sort of drug crimes. The Atlanta Journal Constitution characterized his fall from grace saying he has gone from prosecuting drug dealers to “joining the enemy.” [Read more…]
North Georgia Drug Task Force Waiting on $5 Million in Funding
The Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Tast Force (HIDTA), responsible for numerous raids and in-depth investigations into Mexican drug cartels in the North Georgia area last year, is waiting on the Atlanta City Council to vote on a $5 million federal grant, giving it funding for yet another year of big drug busts. [Read more…]
An AJC Look at Georgia Drug Courts
The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran an in-depth piece last week on the state’s drug courts, their popularity and their effectiveness, as part of a five-part series on accountability courts across the state. There are 35 drug courts in the state; the first was started in Macon in 1994. These courts focus on rehabilitating offenders without sending them to prison, and for many, the results are life changing. [Read more…]
Bill Proposes Sweeping Criminal Justice Changes
House Bill 1176 was introduced this week, marking several potentially progressive changes to the Georgia criminal justice system. Keeping in line with what Gov. Deal said was important in his state of the state address, lawmakers are hoping to reduce some prison terms, and divert some offenders into treatment as an alternative to incarceration. [Read more…]
Georgia Gov Deal Calls For More Drug Treatment, Less Incarceration
In his state of the state address a few weeks ago, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal promised to support further efforts to curb recidivism and close the revolving door that sends so many Georgians back to prison once released. He wants more drug courts and greater drug treatment programs for those accused of drug-related offenses, hoping to stop the addictions that often lead to criminal behavior. [Read more…]
Intense Henry County Drug Court Keeps Offenders Busy and Out of Jail
The new Henry County Drug Court is one of 33 such courts in the state. These courts are known as accountability courts and are designed to provide select offenders with an alternative to jail or prison time in exchange for an intense period of supervision and accountability, which simultaneously saves the county thousands. [Read more…]