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FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Fresno County Supervisors have voted to increase funding for a new drug court that emphasizes treatment over incarceration.
The Fresno Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1P0IWWR ) the county district attorney and public defender on Tuesday asked the supervisors to inject more funding into the pilot program, which has prompted 80 percent of drug offenders to seek treatment since beginning in September.
After offenders appear in court, they meet with a substance abuse specialist who makes a referral for treatment.
The supervisors approved more than $356,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year, which will go toward three employees for the court, including two attorneys.
Officials with the Board of State and Community Corrections will come to Fresno later this month to observe the drug court as a possible model for a state-wide program
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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com
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