By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A chemical endangerment of a child charge brought against a Jemison woman after she allegedly smoked marijuana near multiple children will have a chance to have her criminal charges dropped, according to Shelby County District Court records.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested Jessica Latrice Campbell, who lists an address on Chilton County 91 in Jemison, on July 7 and charged her with one felony count of chemical endangerment of a child.

According to her arrest warrant, Campbell’s charge came after she allegedly “smoked marijuana while in a vehicle occupied by minor children” on July 4.

Campbell was released from the Shelby County Jail on July 8 after posting a $5,000 bond. She was scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. on July 29, but had her case transferred to the Shelby County Drug Court on July 24, according to court documents.

Through Drug Court, “intensive treatment, rather than incarceration, is used as the primary means of coping with drug use, abuse and addiction,” according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website.

Those who qualify for the Drug Court program can have their criminal charges dismissed upon successful completion of the program, and can avoid jail or prison time in the process.

While completing the Drug Court program, Campbell must report to the Shelby County Courthouse each Friday “until released from such requirement by the court,” according to an order submitted by District Court Judge Bill Bostick.

While Campbell is in the Drug Court program, she must take and pass random drug and alcohol screenings. If she fails a test or fails to report as required to Drug Court, she will be rearrested.