Chesco drug program to be funded by DOJ

WEST CHESTER Chester County's adult probation and parole department is one of five agencies across the country chosen for a Department of Justice program meant to prevent drug offenders from ending up back behind bars.

Called the Swift, Certain and Fair Sanctions Program, the Justice Department has modeled its program after one Hawaii started in 2004 that reduced recidivism, new arrests, and drug use among drug offenders.

The program includes adding regular random drug tests, quickly penalizing people who violate the terms of their probations and requiring short-term jail stays as punishment for violating probation.

The Justice Department awarded $600,000 to Chester County for personnel to run the program, more drug testing supplies, and data collection to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, said Christopher Murphy, chief adult probation officer for the county.

"I would really like to see that people under our supervision are able to lead law-abiding lives," Murphy said.

Chester County plans to start its program in early November. - Michaelle Bond