Kosciusko To Begin Drug Court Program
Several months ago Kosciusko County officials began the local creation of a nationally proven solution Drug Court. Drug Court will focus on those offenders whose criminality stem mainly or entirely from their dependence on substances. Also, Drug Court will consider both drug and drug-driven offenses. (See related)
In the last 20 years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the spread of drug courts across the country. Recently, the Indiana criminal justice system has begun a major revision of the state’s criminal statutes which have been on the books for the past 36 years. This change is also prompting and encouraging local innovation for alternative sentencing to embrace rehabilitation instead of incarceration.
To be considered for drug court, the office of the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney makes a preliminary determination as to the offender’s eligibility based on the Indiana law guidelines. Once legal eligibility is determined, the drug court coordinator completes a clinical screening process. The information gathered from this screening tool will inform the coordinator’s recommendation to the drug court team as to whether the offender is appropriate for the program.
If the team approved the offender’s participation, the coordinator then informs the offender and their family members about the details and requirements. If they decide to participate, the offender signs an agreement.
Drug Court program has three phases and takes approximately 18 to 24 months to complete. The length of each phase is dependent on the participant’s compliance with the drug treatment that the court requires. Also, the participant will have additional rehabilitation measures during each phase, such as employment, education and financial responsibilities.
In the drug court program, participants will be closely supervised by Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Reed, who is supported by a team of agency representatives who operate outside their traditional roles. The team will include Prosecutor Dan Hampton, a drug court coordinator, several addiction treatment providers, a public defender, law enforcement officers, probation officers, transitional living representatives, case workers and adult education representatives.
The team will work together to provided needed services to drug court participants. Drug Court programs can be viewed as blending resources, expertise and interests of a variety of jurisdictions and agencies.
Drug courts are designed to guide offenders as drug-addicted into treatment that will reduce drug dependence and improve the quality of life for offenders and their families. In addition to reducing recidivism, positive outcomes for drug court participants reduce taxpayer costs in comparison to processing offenders through the typical criminal court system.
The Kosciusko County Drug Court is expected to begin in January.