Door, Shawano county justice systems to offer alternative drug court option

Sammy Gibbons | Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY - Diversion programs for non-violent offenders struggling with addiction will expand in Door and Shawano counties, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Monday.

The counties are among several Wisconsin communities that received grants to implement or expand Treatment Alternatives and Diversion programs, coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The funds aim to develop methods to help people through drug abuse recovery, rather than putting them behind bars for crimes committed as a result of addiction.

Door County has seen "lots of effects of the opioid epidemic," Door County District Attorney Colleen Nordin said of her area.

The county already has alternative pre-arrest programs, funded through the DOJ, which funnels low-risk drug users into treatment-based diversion programs instead of jail. Those who qualify for such a program typically have not been convicted of a previous offense.

With the new funds, Door County will implement an adult drug court for offenders who were previously convicted.

Door County Sheriff Tammy Sternard said getting multiple-time offenders help is "the right thing to do."

"Oftentimes it's the addiction that drives them to the criminal behavior we're seeing," Sternard said. "Our treatment court is an opportunity to expand on our pre-arrest program and diversion, which works very well in our county. It's another tool in our toolbox to take a look at those individuals."

Nordin explained those eligible for treatment court are "high-risk, high-need," meaning they have a higher chance of re-offending and a higher need for addiction treatment. Unlike those in the pre-arrest programs, these offenders are convicted and have the option to participate in treatment court as part of probation.

Every dollar spent on treatment and diversion saves nearly $2 in the criminal justice system, Gov. Tony Evers said in a Wisconsin Department of Justice press release.

Diversion programs typically involve substance abuse treatment and case management among other risk reduction services.

Kaul said the program leads to fairer outcomes, and has bipartisan support. But mainly, he said, it will create safer communities.

"If you have someone who ends up in the system because of an addiction (and) you just incarcerate that person and the addiction goes untreated, if that was the root cause they're likely to end up in the justice system again until you address that underlying problem," Kaul told the Door County Advocate.

According to a DOJ press release, an additional $1.5 million was allotted in the state's 2019-2021 budget to boostTreatment Alternatives and Diversion programs.

Door received $140,000 to launch an adult drug court, while Shawano gained $107,000 to support its newly-established adult drug court.

Nordin said Door County authorities worked collaboratively to fund an adult drug court. The added state dollars allowed the county to reach its goal a year earlier than expected.

County officials will start building policies, procedures and screening tools in January, when the grant starts disbursements, Sternard said. Nordin said the target launch date for what they're calling Door County Treatment Court is in June, but officials hope it could come sooner.

"We will be able to offer to those individuals the treatment they need and hopefully get them out of the system for good," Nordin said. "We are grateful for the grant, and we are looking forward to getting the program up and running."

Contact Sammy Gibbons at (920) 431-8396 or sgibbons@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @sammykgibbons or Facebook at www.facebook.com/ReporterSammyGibbons/.

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