Judge urges county to use opioid settlement funds for intervention (drug) court; board asks for budget

Judge Annie P. Mueller told the Harrison County Board of Supervisors the county’s intervention court — a felony drug court serving Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties — has produced low recidivism and urged the board to consider directing some opioid‑settlement money to the program.

Mueller said the program takes nonviolent felony defendants who plead guilty and places them under intensive supervision that includes three weekly drug tests, two weekly support meetings, weekly meetings with a case manager and weekly court appearances. Graduates’ felony convictions are eligible for expungement after successful completion. Mueller said the court has produced about 106 graduates since she took over in June 2021 and cited a statewide adult felony drug intervention recidivism rate of 4.3% compared with 39.1% for those supervised by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Mueller described two principal funding needs: leasing a local drug‑testing laboratory so the court could expand testing beyond the 16‑panel cups it now uses — allowing detection of newer synthetic drugs — and support for participant transportation and housing barriers, such as bus passes or deposits to secure housing for participants who otherwise cannot attend required appointments.

The judge estimated a five‑year lease for a laboratory would cost about $150,000 (roughly $30,000 additional per year in testing costs compared with current panels) but said she was still collecting concrete pricing. She asked the board to “consider using at least some” of the county’s opioid‑settlement receipts for those purposes. Board members said the county has received an initial opioid settlement payment and that the total to come could be substantial over multiple years.

The board did not commit funding at the meeting. Supervisors asked Mueller to submit a proposed budget showing the additional annual costs beyond the court’s normal budget and to route the request through the county administrator; the board indicated it would consider approval after staff review. The board and Mueller also discussed whether Harrison County funds would cover participants from Hancock and Stone counties; Mueller said Harrison County is the lead county for the district and currently administers the budget while collecting participant supervision fees from all counties.

No formal appropriation was made; the matter is pending receipt and review of a detailed budget and scope for the laboratory and participant supports.

Judge Mueller distributed a recent program report through the administrative office of courts and listed program coordinator Antoine Taylor as a contact for further detail.