MERIDIAN —     The state's Supreme Court Chief Justice is pleased with the progress that county drug courts are making, including the one in Lauderdale County.

    Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., told Meridian Rotarians Wednesday of the work being done by Judge Veldore Young in the local drug court.

    "You take someone with a felony drug conviction who would be subject to serve time," Waller said. "There are no violent offenders, they are screened carefully and put into this diversionary program essentially under house arrest."'

    Waller said the extensive program in which they are monitored and tested for drugs usually lasts for at least three years. During this time they have to earn a GED if they don't have a high school diploma, offenders have to hold down a job and honor child support obligations when applicable.

    "The result of that is at the end of the period of time, you have a good citizen," Waller said.

    The rate of recidivism among convicted felons is generally two-thirds. Participants in drug court programs have a recidivism rate of about one-third, he said.

    "Not only are you not paying jail costs but when they get out they stay out of jail and become a regular member of society," Waller said.

    He said Judge Young's drug court in Lauderdale County has 55 participants.

    "The savings of house arrests over incarceration is $15,000 per person a year," Waller said. "She said that just since the program started, they've had two drug-free babies. That means they're breaking the cycle. This is a very significant program and I hope if you see Judge Young, you'll thank her for this."

    Young's first class will graduate in September or October, he said.

    "If you get a chance to go, please go. I promise you it will change your life forever," Waller said, "to hear the stories and see the lives changed."

    The drug programs throughout the state save Mississippi taxpayers $38 million annually, he said.

    Waller also explained about the structure of the state's high court.

    There are nine justices who serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court who are elected for eight year terms. This is an election year for four of the justices, including Waller, who is opposed by Earle Banks. Waller and Justice Leslie King represent the state's first district, which includes Lauderdale County. However, all members of the court hear and rule on appeals from throughout the state. Elections are non-partisan, he said.

    Waller explained the differences between the Mississippi Supreme Court and the The Court of Appeals, which hears cases assigned by the Supreme Court. There are 10 Appeals Court judges, he said, two of whom are from Meridian, Larry Roberts and Kenneth Griffis.

    Most cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court come from circuit or chancery courts on the county level, he said, and the case is not re-tried, but rather the attorneys submit briefs, which are reviewed by justices or the attorneys argue before the court based on evidence and testimony from the original trial. If the only issue in the case is that there has been an error in the original trial, the Supreme Court sends it to the Appeals Court. The Mississippi Legislature established the Appeals Court in 1995 to speed the judicial process, Waller said.

    The Supreme Court divides its work into three panels, each having a presiding justice. Waller also said the court is working on its electronic courts system.

    "We're very, very conscious in the judiciary of efficiencies of time and money," Waller said.

    The Supreme Court is overseeing the Mississippi Electronic Courts pilot project to test electronic filing in chancery, circuit and county courts.

    "You should be glad to know that Mississippi is the only state that has this so we have the benefit of the system that the federal government spent millions of dollars developing," Waller said.

    Nearly 3,000 attorneys in Mississippi are online with it.

    "The benefit to the public is that you do have the option and opportunity to view court files from your computer without having to go to the courthouse," Waller said. "I think that the more that's available to the public, the more the public's confidence in the judiciary is enhanced."

    Waller,  of Jackson, has served on the Supreme Court since January 1998. He was a presiding justice for five years. He became Chief Justice in January 2009. He is the eldest son of the late Gov. Bill Waller Sr. and Carroll Overton Waller.