Kentucky Court of Justice
Deputy chief justice of the Supreme Court to be guest speaker at Jefferson County Drug Court graduation July 29

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott will be the guest speaker at a Jefferson County Drug Court graduation ceremony Tuesday, July 29, when 14 participants will be recognized for completing the program. The ceremony will be open to the public and will take place at noon in the Mayor’s Gallery on the fourth floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse, 527 W. Jefferson St.    

Justice Scott represents the 7th Supreme Court District, which is comprised of Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rowan and Wolfe counties. He has been deputy chief justice since July 1, 2006.   

Jefferson County judges presiding over the graduation ceremony will be Circuit Judge Mary M. Shaw, District Judge Donald E. Armstrong, District Judge Anne Haynie and Senior Judge Stephen P. Ryan. The judges conduct Drug Court proceedings in Jefferson County. 

Invitees to the ceremony include law enforcement representatives, elected officials and attorneys.

 Jefferson County Drug Court began in 1993.

 Kentucky Drug Court

Drug Court is proving to be a positive solution to a serious social problem. The success of Drug Court can be measured in the number of lives changed and the cost savings to Kentucky taxpayers. The program has had a significant impact on reducing rearrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. The program has resulted in increased payment of delinquent child support and improved employment rates. For every $1 spent on Drug Court graduates, the state saves $2.72 on what it would have spent on incarcerating these individuals.

The mission is to provide a court-supervised treatment alternative that stops illicit drug use and related criminal activity and promotes a positive life change through substance abuse education and treatment.  

How Drug Court Works

Drug Court coordinates the efforts of the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social services and treatment communities to actively intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction and crime. 

The program consists of three phases that last at least one year and are followed by aftercare. Drug Court staff and participants work together to develop individual program plans with specific responsibilities and goals with timetables. Plans include group, family and individual counseling; frequent and random urine testing; education and vocational training; scheduled payments of restitution, child support and court fees; and health and community activities. Participants report directly to their Drug Court judge, who rewards progress and sanctions noncompliance. 

When participants successfully complete the program, charges may be dismissed through diversion, or conditional discharge may be granted through probation. Judges who participate in Drug Court volunteer their time to the program, and much of the program’s funding comes from state funds approved through the Kentucky General Assembly. 

Kentucky Drug Court is administered through the Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort. The AOC is the operational arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice and supports the activities of more than 4,000 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks.