UPDATE: August 25, 2020 - A Racket of Extortion on the Poor - The War on Drugs - Drug Testing in the Community - Not Certified, But Have Flashy Elvis Costumes - February 9, 2016

Drug Testing Management Program Face Book photo (Fair-use for nonprofit news reporting and commentary)

Drug Testing Program Management, DTPM in "The Louisiana Drug Court Show," a continuation of "The Family and Associates story."

**Regarding Drug abuse treatment - It will take a joint effort by citizens to change the way business is accomplished within our government regarding drug abuse. Allowing attorneys, corrections, and the courts to make primary decisions regarding treatment of disease, instead of physicians, is a serious error of judgement.**

Drug Testing Program Management, DTPM, is connected with Jackson Community Corrections and Court Referral (associated with Jackson County Courts, the State of Alabama's Office of Courts and Alabama Department Corrections). 

Their owner and at least one of their executive staff are board members of the Jackson County Court Referral and Community Corrections organization. A NON-accountable corporate courts' organization in Jackson County. But lets not confuse issues of making money with issues of helping people with substance abuse problems, maximum sarcasm intended.

Fair use for non profit news reporting, unknown source.

DTPM is also associated with Family Life Center, another non-profit organization where the Director is the owner of DTPM and property owner of the buildings.  https://www.facebook.com/Drug.Testing.Program.Management/

The FB photo, The Louisiana Drug Court "really big shoe;" demonstrates their profit motivations, a Louisiana Drug Court Show - oh boy and here we have the really big "shoe" lets hear it for DRUG COURT and their sundry of players - "substance abusers, we will bleed'em dry of money, or jail them if they have no money," court referral, community corrections, corporate courts and politicians who don't give a damn. 

Court Referral and Community Corrections - "...just like the First Baptist Church..." says their attorney, as an excuse for not being accountable for public funds, protocols, number of successes vs failures and procedures.

DTPM does not meet the requirements of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, SAMHSA, for a certified drug testing facility. Nor do they meet the Code of Alabama (COA) requirements for employee drug testing, COA - 25-5-335. But, that does not stop their Elvis impersonations, or sending off confirmations with no seal/no double sample testing methodology, or greater than 5 day old samples. Can you say, improper chain of custody? I hope their Elvis impersonations, flashy costumes, are better than their drug testing charade.  http://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/resources/drug-testing/certified-lab-list

UPDATE - August 25, 2020 - More info on testing protocol and certification requirements in Alabama. More evidence of a racket of extortion on the poor, but benefiting corporate entities and their owners, NOT PEOPLE.
Clinical Laboratories in Alabama which test human bodily fluid specimens have certification requirements. These requirements are outlined in the Alabama Department of Public Health Rules (ADPH), Chapter 420-5-8, and is administrative law in Alabama. The requirements became health law in November 1975 and have been updated many times, with the last update July 2014. Link: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/assets/ICLIPL714.pdf My inquiries reveal DTPM does not meet the requirements of a clinical laboratory testing human bodily fluid specimens FYI -. These issues have recently came to light as DTPM is testing for Covid-19 per contract from Highlands Medical Center, Jackson County Health Care Authority. This was discovered after interviews with Highlands Medical Center laboratory staff.

Quote from the ADPH : ". . . Independent clinical laboratories and health care institutions engaged in offering diagnostic services to be licensed by the Alabama State Board of Health, the State Board of Health does hereby adopt and promulgate the following Rules governing all independent clinical laboratories and all independent physiological laboratories and other related institutions in Alabama, except those operated under the supervision of the Department of Mental Health. . ." Drug testing falls under the Department of Mental Health who are not qualified, not properly funded, nor able to properly certify actual clinical laboratories, however they do so anyways. This exemption points to a high level of corruption initiated politically for financial gain of those profiting from the medical conditions of substance abusers. In my opinion, to exempt these clinical laboratories from certification requirements of the ADPH, due to their performing drug tests, is unprofessional, facilitates malpractice and is indicative of a corporate fascist culture supporting money before the health of human beings. The care of patients suffering from substance abuse must involve medical treatment instead of fostering a culture of money before human health. That is not saying courts should not be involved due to criminal behavior, I am saying that the medical condition of substance abusers must be placed before a corporate justice and prison system to insure a person who has a drug problem receives the necessary treatment and returns to society to be a productive member of the community.

Will the Drug Testing Lab Exemptions change October 1, 2020? Or will corporate fascism continue?  Quote from ADPH: "CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment) Effective October 1, 2020"

"Any clinical laboratory that meets the definition of an Independent Clinical Laboratory (ICL), including those that perform waived testing only, will be required to obtain the state license for laboratories and follow the rules set forth by the Alabama State Board of Health. The application and fee requirements can be found on this website".

"All clinical laboratories that perform testing on human specimens for diagnosis, treatment, or preventive medicine are required to obtain and maintain a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate. . ."  Link: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/clia.html 

Will the needed change occur, will labs be required to be certified by the Alabama Department of Health to insure accuracy of testing??

The "war on drugs" is about money, not people's health. Money to support a non-accountable drug court system, attorneys, court referral entities with a continuous stream of offenders - regardless of accuracy or truthfulness of test results; money to support the corporate court system and the skulduggery it brings as demonstrated by the below photos.

Photo from Face Book DTPM site - Who keeps the corporate judiciary and non-certified drug testing labs in line? (fair-use for non-profit news reporting and commentary)

DTPM Christmas party - celebrating from others misery from the pockets of the poor! Enjoy your fun and frivolity DTPM on the misery of those suffering from substance abuse. Feel the message, or do you give a damn? (fair use for non-profit news reporting and commentary)

Mississippi Drug Court Show DTPM Face Book site. (Fair use for non profit news reporting.) What, no flashy costumes at this Drug Court Show?

The War on Drugs Cost - It is about the money, not ending the problem of substance abuse. Facts demonstrate the war on drugs has killed more people than drugs and resulted in an increase in organized crime. Some local law enforcement, current and retired, have stated that the Community Corrections-Court Referral-Drug Testing-Pseudo Out Patient care scam is organized crime. These programs are not about resolving the problem of substance abuse, the "War on Drugs" is about making money.

Fair use for non profit news reporting, unknown source.

Drug Distribution in the U.S. - DEA Intelligence Report

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/dir06515.pdf

Like A Cancer, The War on Drugs Is Killing Our Nation's Values - A Local, State and National Failure

Sometimes it is hard to determine who suffers more from delusions, the drug abuser, politicians,  judges or the growing corporate corrections and court referral system. Citizens suffer from our government's abject failure from the war on drugs. This expose will address a growing cancer all across our nation - the cancer of substance abuse and the failure of the war on drugs on multiple levels in our government and our culture.

Fair Use Rights for non-profit news reporting - courtesy of the Matador Network.

Cancer comes in three forms, physical/medical cancer affecting the human body's organs due to cellular mutations; cultural cancer- racism, religious wars, religious persecution and drug abuse are forms of cultural cancers; societal cancer - some say our courts are turning into a societal cancer, declining family values and a lack of fathers and mothers as a family unit, and drug abuse, including the war on drugs.

Here I'll discuss and provide information on the later of the two cancers, cultural and societal as it pertains to drug abuse and the war on drugs failure. I welcome any comments which dispute that the war on drugs is not a failure locally, state wide and nationally.

Many of us have seen the debilitating effects on the individual, family, friends and community when people abuse drugs and alcohol. In many ways substance abuse is far more deadly than the physiological form of the disease we generally call cancer because the cancer of substance abuse has another symptom attached to it, it is called denial. The psychological damage is just as great as the physical damage. This form of cancer many times is much harder to treat because it becomes hidden in friends, family and even in the individual because the individual denies and manipulates others around them in parasitic relationships. As the drug abuse progresses, individuals become psychotic, and this is a sure sign the disease has a grip on the individual and their better senses.

Often the individual cries out for help in many different ways, sometimes those too close will not react or isolate themselves from the individual exhibiting this disease. A true friend will help and also demonstrate tough love and attempt to convince their friend that they need help. 

The other and third type of cancer is cancers of our culture, community, societal cancers so to speak. Leading that list there are several forms of the illness which manifests itself into our society, greed is one where the quest for money overcomes our sense of values; destruction of our environment is another - often greed is associated with that. But, our old foe of substance abuse is right up there with greed and environmental destruction wreaking havoc on our communities.

Our government attempts to wage battles against this common foe, unfortunately that is unsuccessful because of greed and the tendency in our government to disregard individual needs. Individual needs are replaced with the needs of the corporation. We see this locally, state wide and nationally in drug and correction programs. It is seen on a broader scale with spending in the defense industrial complex, billions - trillions spent on the war on drugs failure, all the while ignoring the individual’s need for comprehensive medical treatment.  Think about how far a trillion dollars, or even 50 billion dollars would go regarding individual drug abuse treatment.

The goal of the war on drugs is not about curing the individual problem of substance abuse, the war on drugs is to support corporations and individuals connected with courts and prisons instead of actually treating medically each and every individual infected with this insidious, cancerous disease of addiction called substance abuse. Until there is a change in attitude and a redirection of government policy the problem will grow and our courts and those who think they are resolving the problem will continue on their, and the drug abusers, road of delusion at a cost of hundreds of thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer money.

Web articles on the subject (Fair use rights for non-profit news reporting and education about drug abuse.)
AP, via FOX News - Using Freedom of Information Act requests, archival records, federal budgets and dozens of interviews with leaders and analysts, the AP tracked where that money went, and found that the United States repeatedly increased budgets for programs that did little to stop the flow of drugs. In 40 years, taxpayers spent more than:

— $20 billion to fight the drug gangs in their home countries. In Colombia, for example, the United States spent more than $6 billion, while coca cultivation increased and trafficking moved to Mexico — and the violence along with it.

— $33 billion in marketing "Just Say No"-style messages to America's youth and other prevention programs. High school students report the same rates of illegal drug use as they did in 1970, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drug overdoses have "risen steadily" since the early 1970s to more than 20,000 last year.

— $49 billion for law enforcement along America's borders to cut off the flow of illegal drugs. This year, 25 million Americans will snort, swallow, inject and smoke illicit drugs, about 10 million more than in 1970, with the bulk of those drugs imported from Mexico.

— $121 billion to arrest more than 37 million nonviolent drug offenders, about 10 million of them for possession of marijuana. Studies show that jail time tends to increase drug abuse.

— $450 billion to lock those people up in federal prisons alone. Last year, half of all federal prisoners in the U.S. were serving sentences for drug offenses.  http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/ap-impact-years-trillion-war-drugs-failed-meet-goals/

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) 3 out of 4 Americans believe the war on drugs is a failure  http://www.leap.cc/for-the-media/the-war-on-drugs-at-a-glance/

The costs - “The war on drugs has created a vast criminal market” Maybe this is its’ purpose - http://www.countthecosts.org/seven-costs/wasting-billions-drug-law-enforcement

Propaganda, deceit and the destruction of lives. 15 years ago, and still today our government’s officials do not grasp the problem and continue to make it worse, all for greed. http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/war-drugs-costs-american-lives-liberties

The real world story is always better than fiction – the drug cartels. The reason they exist is due to U.S. policy in a failed war on drugs. Politicians and judges, how many more people are you going to kill because of your ignorance and denial? http://www.newsweek.com/cartel-your-annual-reminder-war-drugs-isnt-over-347085

10 facts about America’s War on Drugs that will shock you  http://matadornetwork.com/change/10-facts-drug-war-will-shock/

Community Corrections - Court Referral - Drug Court - Friend or Foe? Corporate Drug Testing Solutions or Evidence of Corruption Approved by our Courts and Legislators

Drug Courts, Community Corrections and Court Referral is big business in Alabama and across our nation. According to those who work in the program and manage such programs it is wonderful, and  our answer to the growing pandemic of drug and substance abuse. But is that the case, or is it a scheme to benefit corporations preying on the poor?

Our local Community Corrections and Court Referral Office, located on private property owned by the Director of Community Corrections and Court Referral, Mr. Mike Brown - per Jackson County Property and Mapping Office for Jackson County Alabama (photo by G. Morgan)

Our local Drug testing center and Family Life Counseling, claiming to be an outpatient treatment facility. Owned by Mr. Randall Eugene and Tracy P. Cleckler,  per Jackson County Property and Mapping Office for Jackson County Alabama. On the local Community Corrections & Court Referral 2013 IRS filing Mr. Cleckler and Rannie Childress is listed as Board Members of the non-profit entity associated with Community Corrections & Court Referral.  Both are also listed as Executives of the Family LifeCenter, a 501c3 corporation. Mr. Cleckler is listed as the Executive officer, owner of Drug Testing Management Program, located in the same building, his drug counseling and testing programs are located across Northeast Alabama. (photo by G. Morgan)

I have published recent articles critical of what appears to be conflicts of interest involving managers and owners of the above mentioned businesses, non-profit entities and government agencies. One local newspaper has published articles regarding Community Corrections and Court Referral. which may be found on this blog's links here - http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Jackson%20County%20Community%20Corrections%20and%20Court%20Referral  The Jackson County Commission has asked questions about Community Corrections and Court Referral regarding their approval request to the county commission. 

I have placed my published articles on Face Book which caused an extreme defensive posture from employees of the Jackson County Court Referral & Community Corrections along with comments from employees of the Jackson County Drug Court. All of these individuals are either employees of government entities or employees of non-profit entities performing services for the 38th Judicial Circuit of Courts, Jackson County Alabama. Their conduct is not becoming of employees of the courts or a corporate entity of the court created as a judicial tool of the court system. 

Some of the comments - 1) "As you have seen, a man by the name of Garry L Morgan has already told everyone that we were at a conference. He has really been studying up on Jackson County Court Referral and Community Corrections. As you will see, he doesn't care how much good this organization does for the Jackson County citizens. It's not his job to care. His... only job is to "stir" things up. That is his sole purpose. While he is doing this, we will continue to try and help anyone and everyone who wants or needs it. At first, I wanted to pay attention to what he had to say, but as I asked around the community and was told not to pay any attention to what he had to say. I have ask many and received the same answer every time. So while he does this, please know that we will operate as normal. I also want to thank EVERYONE for their support and comments." 2) "Garry, this is Brandon Brown. I know this is going to make you so happy. When the Jackson County Commission ask us to produce documents, we gave them the ones we had in our hands. Also, I want you to know that we owe you NOTHING! You have posted some terrible things on the Jackson County Drug Court page." 3) "We have nothing to hide. We have to have 2 different audits every single year." 4) About our previous post, seems to me that you can post anything you want but every time someone in support of our organization says something, you holler SLANDER!!! SLANDER!!! I know you will sue. I know this about you.What a man you are. You can claim slander. Seems like you're good at that. You can post all you want about your past. I don't care what you've done. This will be the last post I make on here concerning you. I can't believe that I've wasted time on a Saturday. I actually took time away from my family, for what? YOU!. Do what you think you need to do and I will do what I need to do. I believe in our program and so do many people. I know you will not believe this, but you have posted many false statements on here. I have saved them. I have not deleted any of you post on here. I wanted people to see who you are. The last thing I will say is that our business is not run from tax dollars. There are no tax dollars that are spent in our program. It is self supportive. BYE. 5) I have just been talking about you. Not in a bad way (the way you have been talking about us). But I was thinking this could all be a blessing in disguise. Maybe someone will see one of your post (no matter how inaccurate) and realize that our services are there to help them get clean and sober.6) I firmly believe that what Satan does to harm us God will use for his glory! So...that being said. I guess thanks! My name is Anna Brown! I love the addict and alcoholic and if anyone needs help getting into treatment or needs someone to talk to, I am here. Thanks! 7) ... My husband will not be doing an interview with you sir. Just between the two of us....I will pray for you and you pray for me. You will see everything unfold in the future if you read other newspapers. Have a blessed day." 7) "I can't speak for anyone but I am sure the documents you are asking for or an interview would never be done with you or the Clarion. But I can assure you it will be produced and an interview done with a reputable person and paper." 8) Drug Court's comments, 38th Judicial District - "I know there have been a lot of rumors floating around. But let me say that is what they are rumors. Drug court is doing fine. In fact we are at a conference because we have been recognized for being one of the best drug courts in the State of Alabama and we have received an award. We will have a graduation as planned and cro and family life are up and running with no issues. Our drug court and participants have worked hard to overcome so much. Please help us to stop these rumors and stand up for what is right."  9)Thank you for all the positive comments. We understand the rumors and slander come from people who do not understand how hard we work for our participants and we will pray for them. 10) From Court Referral's following - "Who cares if they don't have records to prove to you anything Garry L. Morgan you are a no body and they should not have to prove anything to you...So I truely believe you should mind your own business and leave well enough alone...So if you can't do anything but slander them maybe you should get a life and leave cco alone. 

My blog articles are linked above, contained within my blog articles is the Clarion expose on this issue. My home page on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/garry.l.morgan.5  

Jackson County Community Corrections - Court Referral page on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonCountyCourtReferralAndCommunityCorrections


Jackson County Drug Court page on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Drug-Court-of-Jackson-County-Alabama-359537520810327/ 

DRUG ABUSE IN ALABAMA 

Drug abuse in Alabama is a growing problem - it is a medical, legal, political, and cultural problem. It is reflective of unqualified, lack luster substance abuse programs outside of credentialed health care providers. Our judiciary and law makers bear a heavy responsibility for the problem and growing disaster of pandemic proportions. Substance abuse is a disease on several levels.

The war on drugs is a failure extending from federal to local levels. 

"According to the report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), prescription drug abuse has quickly become a top public health concern, as prescription drug related deaths now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined, and drug overdose deaths exceed motor vehicle-related deaths in 29 states and Washington, D.C. Misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers alone costs the country an estimated $53.4 billion a year in lost productivity, medical costs and criminal justice costs. The report also notes that, currently, only one in 10 Americans with a substance abuse disorder receives treatment." 

Drug Overdose Mortality Rates tripled from 1999 to 2010 in Alabama. Pill mills are a growing illegal enterprise. Alabama ranks 3rd from the bottom along with other right wing states who place corporations ahead of human health. Drug abuse is a medical, cultural and legal problem which political leadership and the judiciary are ill advised as to resolving the growing problems. http://healthyamericans.org/reports/drugabuse2013/release.php?stateid=AL

Alabama refuses to participate in Medicaid expansion which could be utilized to facilitate qualified substance abuse programs for the poor. 

Instead Alabama and other states have created corporate drug testing and faux outpatient treatment structures with little or no medical oversight. Meanwhile, corporations supported by state judiciaries enrich themselves on taxpayer dollars and those poor people who have no other choice as a result of court orders. 

Courts and their corporate structured corrections and referral programs bleed the poor with limited success outside structured, qualified medical treatment. Since when do corporate community corrections and court referral organizations become medical treatment experts with qualified, credentialed health care professionals on staff? They are not qualified medical treatment experts credentialed to deal with the variety of medical related substance abuse problems. Unfortunately cottage industry corporate structures have sprung up to enrich corporations and their owners instead of treating the growing pandemic of substance abuse. 

Drug courts and their related court referral structures fail to address the medical aspects of drug abuse, substance abuse problems.  https://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/Drug_Courts_Are_Not_the_Answer_Final2.pdf

Regarding the Jackson County Community Corrections and Court Referral

The Director of Court Referral is appointed or contracted by the Administrative Director of Courts. The Administrative Director of Courts and the presiding Circuit Judge of the county has supervisory responsibility over the appointed director. Code of Alabama 12-23-4 

Court Referral Program Requirements may be found at this link under the Administrative Office of the Courts: http://www.alacourt.gov/Sections/CSIT/EducationalPrograms.aspx

Code of Alabama 15-18-170 thru 182 covers Community Correction's programs  http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/codeofalabama/1975/coatoc.htm

Alabama Justice and Corruption - Municipal Courts and Racketeering in Alabama

An article by Sue Bell Cobb, "I Was Alabama's Top Judge, I'm Ashamed of What I Had to Do to Get There...I never quite got over the feeling of being trapped inside a system whose very structure left me feeling disgusted."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/judicial-elections-fundraising-115503.html#ixzz3g4Q8lgIq  Image usage - Fair Usage - not for profit news reporting. 

Local Municipal Court

Citizens must ask the question, why did Scottsboro and other municipalities in Alabama, cancel their contract with Judicial Corrections Services, JCS? Why would our local courts facilitate Racketeering? The answer to that question may be found here - http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-sues-private-probation-company-alabama-city-over-racketeering-scheme

 JCS, and municipalities utilizing their services, are being sued by the Southern Poverty Law Center, SPLC, for allegations of Racketeering (RICO). SPLC alleges in their suit that JCS and municipalities utilizing JCS services have enabled a criminal enterprise specifically pointed at defendants that are poor and cannot afford an attorney. Additionally, according to the SPLC suit, Alabama law prohibits the charging of a probation fee in municipal court.  Complaint filed in Federal Court - http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/case/1_-_complaint.pdf

I have interviewed several defendants locally who faced prosecution in municipal courts. All the defendants interviewed are living under the poverty level and stated they could not afford an attorney. I asked each person interviewed: “What plea did you enter before the court?” All told me they were not allowed to enter a plea as they were not asked for a plea. The scenario goes like this: Defendant is taken to a back room by unknown parties, told to sign documents paying for court costs, charges will be dropped, pay court costs and go to JCS to pay the costs. They are given 2 documents, one from the court and another from JCS. The documents samples are pictured below, names and dates have been redacted to protect people’s privacy.

I’m not saying defendants are innocent or guilty, I am questioning what appears to be a violation of trust relating to judicial actions at the municipal level.  It’s the old story, 2 wrongs never make a right; someone must ask the question, who will correct what appears to be illegal activity of municipal courts? An independent investigation should be conducted to determine if local judicial procedures violate rights of the defendants and to answer the question, are local courts violating law?

Scottsboro Municipal Judge James Mick makes statement before Scottsboro City Council, Council Members ask questions - My Question is this, what is this about money or justice? It seems the issue involves money, not the fulfillment of justice via our system of courts.