CASS COUNTY RECIEVES HALF A MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS FOR IT’S ADULT TREATMENT COURT

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent

CASSOPOLIS – Cass County has received half a million dollars from a federal grant to allow the county’s Adult Treatment Court to continue to operate for the next four years.

The Cass County Board of Commissioners accepted the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice at their meeting last week. Cass County Chief Judge Susan L. Dobrich announced that the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program.

The Cass County Adult Treatment Court received one of forty-nine grants awarded across the nation, she reported. The county’s Adult Treatment Court was first established in 2012 and has served 100 people. The new grant will allow the court to serve an additional 118 participants over the term of the four year grant.

The Adult Treatment Court puts particular focus on helping those with drug addictions. In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 52,000 overdose deaths in 2015.

Dobrich reported that the Adult Treatment Court effectively integrates evidence-based substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a rigorous judicially supervised court setting with a goal of reducing recidivism and substance abuse as well as preventing overdoses.

Drug courts have been proven to be effective at reducing recidivism and substance abuse among high risk participants diagnosed with substance abuse. Drug courts are also more successful than other interventions to successfully rehabilitate people through early, continuous and intensive treatment as well as close supervision.

A 2018 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts showed that higher rates of drug imprisonment did not translate into lower rates of drug use, arrests, or overdose deaths. They further state that the most effective response to drug misuse is a combination of law enforcement, alternative sentencing, and treatment.

Dobrich reported that Cass County’s full continuum of problem-solving courts focuses on providing evidence-based responses that work to improve outcomes and make local communities safer.

District Court Judge Stacey Rentfrow has presided over Adult Treatment Court and will continue to preside over Adult Treatment Court for this grant award.