BENTON MAN NAMED DRUG COMMISSIONER

BENTON, Mo. -- James A. Pinkston of Benton has taken the oath of office for the position of drug commissioner for the 33rd Judicial Circuit and will be serve Scott and Mississippi counties.

Pinkston was appointed to the four-year term by judges Dolan, David Mann, T. Lynn Brown, and W.H. Winchester.

The drug commissioner is a circuit position and part of a drug court program initiated by a 1998 law.

The program actually started 10 years ago in Florida when Janet Reno was prosecutor for Dade County.

It was determined that repeated drug arrests and jail time did no good without treating the problem.

The Department of Justice has promoted and provided funding for the drug court program nationwide.

At the time of arrest, suspects' attorneys can request an evaluation to see if suspects meet the conditions to be placed into the three-phase program that takes from nine months to a year to complete.