Drug courts get an audit
It's audit season at the legislature, and today was the statewide drug court program's turn to get vetted. Random visits to 10 drug courts -- there are 39 across the state -- didn't find any major problems, though the audit report noted that courts need to collect fees in a uniform manner. It also stated that there needs to be a definition of "violent felony offense" in state drug court legislation -- drug courts send people to treatment rather than jail, and legislators want to ensure that violent offenders are excluded from that option.
Judge Mary McGowan's Pulaski County drug court was one of the 10 examined -- a point of interest to those following the upcoming judicial elections. As we reported this week, McGowan's opponent in the race, Cecily Skarda, has raised questions about the judge's administration of the court. Doug Spencer, who audited the drug courts, said McGowan's court was in compliance with the ten key components state law requires drug courts to follow. However, he noted a discrepancy between the way McGowan's court and other courts work. In other courts, the judge works with probation officers, lawyers, and counselors to decided whether an offender should be admitted to a drug court program. McGowan makes a decision about who should be admitted to the program before she works with the other players.
Judge Mary McGowan's Pulaski County drug court was one of the 10 examined -- a point of interest to those following the upcoming judicial elections. As we reported this week, McGowan's opponent in the race, Cecily Skarda, has raised questions about the judge's administration of the court. Doug Spencer, who audited the drug courts, said McGowan's court was in compliance with the ten key components state law requires drug courts to follow. However, he noted a discrepancy between the way McGowan's court and other courts work. In other courts, the judge works with probation officers, lawyers, and counselors to decided whether an offender should be admitted to a drug court program. McGowan makes a decision about who should be admitted to the program before she works with the other players.
One other item of note: the audit found the drug court program doesn't have money to pay for prescription drugs or basic medical and health treatment. So some offenders are actually choosing to go to jail rather than accept treatment. There were no numbers on how prevalent this is.
At the same hearing, a separate report found fiscal mismanagement in the Hermitage School District under Superintendent John Jordan, who resigned last September. Jordan improperly authorized and concealed payments to a contractor who was also a district employee. State law prohibits a contractor from doing business with a district that employs him. The audit did not find that Jordan profited personally, so motive for the racket is still murky.
Comments
I am very uncomfortable about making decisions about who to vote for in the judicial races. If a sitting judge is doing an adequate job, why should we replace him or her on the off chance that the next person will do a better job? A better job by whose standards? I really do need some guidance on how and why to vote in these races.
Posted by: Pavel![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 9, 2008 12:08 PM
Agreed.. we really need much more info about judges records and candidates in Arkansas.
Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 9, 2008 02:10 PM
I actually think they should do away with the elected judiciary. Too open for corruption if you ask me
Posted by: rockstar![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 9, 2008 04:21 PM
Eureka Springs, by all means vote for COURTNEY HENRY for Dist. 3 Court of Appeals. She is running for the seat of deceased judge, Crabtree. She was his court clerk.
Please inform your friends in Carroll County.
Her website is on my blue name.
Keep in mind her opposition, Williams, is a former WalMart labor lawyer and is supported by Jim Holt and company. You can imagine what a labor lawyer did at Walmart.
DISTRICT Three is geographically large- is composed of the following counties
-Benton
-Carroll
-Crawford
-Franklin
-Johnson
-Madison
-Sebastian
-Washington
Here is location for Court of Appeals District map:
http://courts.arkansas.gov/pdf/coa_map_2003.pdf
Posted by: L.Wood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 9, 2008 07:42 PM
Pavel-Judge McGowan's opponent currently has a lawsuit filed against her by the phone company over an unpaid phone bill. Any run of the mill lawyer could settle that type of case before a lawsuit was filed. The fact a lawsuit even got filed in such a routine matter and remains unresolved should give you an indication of what her skill level as an attorney is. I would respectfully submit that is not the type of individual we want to be presiding as a Circuit Judge in the Judicial District with the largest caseload in the state. Judge McGowan is a nationally recognized expert in the area of mental health law. She was the first Drug Court Judge in the State of Arkansas. Her opponent can not cite any statistics to back up her false claims against Judge McGowan, and I can assure you the Administrative Office of the Courts has kept up with those statistics since the time Judge McGowan took the bench. If those claims were true, there would be plenty of statistics to back them up. There is no reason to vote against Judge McGowan. There are a lot of reasons not to vote for her opponent.
Posted by: FormerJudge![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 9, 2008 09:39 PM