During ceremonies at the Wayne County courthouse May 17, Wayne County joined communities nationwide to celebrate the establishment of a unique program that is having a major impact on the lives of repeat drug offenders struggling with dependency issues – Drug Court.

According to James Fox, Wayne County Common Pleas Court administrator, since its inception, the Wayne County Common Pleas Drug Court has served approximately “30 drug-dependant felony offenders who otherwise could be facing prison terms or long periods of local incarceration.”

Fox describes drug court as “an intensive program of comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision, coordinated case management and full accountability.

“In addition to participating in substance abuse treatment at STEPS and Your Human Resource Center, participants are required to attend additional support and life skills groups while maintaining a consistent schedule of court reporting,” said Fox.

During the first phase of the program, the participants report before a treatment team consisting of presiding Drug Court Judge and Common Pleas Court Judge Corey Spitler, the participant’s treatment provider, supervising probation officer and case manager.

“This coordinated effort allows for wrap-around service provision, increased communication and immediate accountability and consequence, both positive and negative,” said Fox.

Developed in conjunction with the Ohio Supreme Court, the Wayne County prosecutor, local treatment providers and law enforcement, the Wayne County Common Pleas Court initiated the Drug Court program in late 2009.

The inspiration for starting a local program was a similar program established in Florida 20 years ago.

Like the other 2,500 drug courts currently in operation in the United States, the program is “a judicially-supervised court docket that reduces correctional costs, protects community safety, and improves public welfare,” said Fox.

“Drug Court participants must meet their obligation to themselves, their families, and society,” said Fox, adding that the participants, who are seriously drug-addicted individuals, remain in treatment for long periods of time while under close supervision.

To ensure the level of accountability required for the program, the participants are subjected to random drug tests and are “required to appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations,” said Fox.

Fox said drug courts, like the one established in Wayne County, “are a proven budget solution that saves lives and money.

“Drug courts are this nation’s most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug addicted, nonviolent offenders with long criminal histories,” said Fox, quoting nationwide statistics, showing that 75 percent of Drug Court participants who complete the program are not re-arrested and that Drug Court programs save as much as $13,000 for each individual they serve.

The Wayne County Drug Court program is one of a series of programs offered by the local courts that are “aimed at maintaining non-violent offenders within their communities while reducing recidivism, lowering taxpayer obligation and offering front-end solutions to recurrent challenges,” said Fox.

In addition to the Drug Court docket, the Common Pleas Court Adult Probation Department supervises a Mental Health Court Docket, Day Reporting Program, Intensive Supervision Program (prison diversion), Cognitive-Behavioral Groups, Intervention in Lieu of Conviction Program, Pretrial Diversion Program and an active Community Service Program.

To learn more about National Drug Court Month and the work of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, log on to http://www.nadcp.org.