Kentucky Court of Justice
Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Scott to be guest speaker at first Rowan County Drug Court graduation Dec. 22

FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 20, 2007 – Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott will be the guest speaker at the first-ever Rowan County Drug Court graduation ceremony Saturday, Dec. 22, when two participants will be recognized for completing the program. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place at 10 a.m. in the Circuit Courtroom at the Rowan County Courthouse, 626 E. Main St. in Morehead.

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 became deputy chief justice July 1, 2006. 

Chief Circuit Judge William B. Mains, who conducts Drug Court proceedings in Rowan County, will preside over the graduation ceremony Saturday. Judge Mains serves Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties. 

Other invitees include law enforcement representatives, elected officials, attorneys and representatives from the local Operation UNITE coalition. UNITE stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigation, Treatment and Education.

Rowan County Drug Court began in September 2006 and receives federal funding through Operation UNITE as well as state funding. There are 23 participants in the Rowan County program.

The two participants who will graduate Saturday are “both working, clean and role models for our other Drug Court participants,” Judge Mains said. “They’ve both just done extremely well.”

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 and aftercare and lasts an average of one to two years. 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 federal grants and state matching 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.