Two budgets for vital community support programs were presented in the Senate yesterday[NOTE]Monday, March 19[\NOTE].

PLP Senator Davida Morris said the Department of National Drug Control (NDC), which was originally part of the Ministry of Health, is now part of the Department of Social Rehabilitation.

During the 2006-2007 financial year the NDC reviewed all prevention and abuse laws as well as the preliminary introduction new legislation, which would allow the Government to close crackhouses.

Sen. Morris announced $325,000 for the National Drug Information Network for which policy was still being developed and that the coming year would see the first Prevention Summit held in Bermuda.

Other developments expected in the coming year is the release of a school survey done of Middle and Senior school students, which has initially revealed a marked decrease in the consumption of cigarettes and marijuana by students.

Because of the preliminary survey findings, $1.2 million will be included in the budget for direct programming for schools and an extra $291,000 for a media campaign for increased visibility of the department and their mascot Freddy.

There are also plans in the budget for increasing the current capacity of the residential treatment centres with immediate plans for a co-educational facility for 20 men and 12 women.

Partners of the DNDC will also be provided financial support with $969,000 for the Women's Resource Centre, $781,000 for Camp Spirit, $271,000 for the Salvation Army, $38,000 for Focus and $147,000 for the Bermuda Addiction and Prevention Board.

Senator Morris then presented the budget for Court Services, also part of the Department of Social Rehabilitation, which focused on the community-based services, which help with case management through probation, parole and drug court.

She revealed that probation services had seen a 200 percent increase in cases last year with 223 offenders assigned and less then 12 percent of these cases offending for a second time.

Parole services, according to Sen. Morris had a disappointing 40 offenders released into the program, however, of the 40 there were no cases of re-offence.

Drug Court, which involves the Magistrate, legal aid and probation officer, helps the offender move through the five steps of recuperation and graduated two people this year.

Independent Senator Idwal Hughes asked why the figure was disappointing about the number of offenders who chose to be on parole.

Public Safety Minister Senator David Burch said: "It indicates that the inmates take the attitude that they don't want to accept the rules and would rather serve the term. I don't understand it, but there you go."

The majority of the time left for questions was taken by UBP Senator Gina Spence-Farmer who had questions about the transfer of Camp Spirit and the timeline for the National Drug Information Network.

Sen. Morris answered there was no timeline for the National Drug Information Network nor is there one for the move of Camp Spirit, however, once it goes to Dockyard it will provide year round residential program with 20 beds.