Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
One year after Kosciusko County started its alcohol and drug program, it's become one of the premier programs in Indiana.
In a letter to program director Lori Calmus-Maike, Indiana Judicial Center Court Alcohol and Drug Program Administrator William Carey wrote, "Your recent three-year certification, issued this month (March), was a pleasure to award as you earned one of the best reports we have provided in the last 3+ years. Your program management and program administration are truly excellent, and your clinical standards are among the best in the state. Your practices are consistent with your policies and it is obvious that you have the best interests of your clients at the heart of your program. I was also very impressed by the cooperation and support you have garnered from the many other agencies with which you work."
But the recognition of the success of the program doesn't end there.
Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of Indiana, wrote to Kosciusko Superior Court Judge James C. Jarrette, in part, "I wish to congratulate you on your recent initiation of a Court Alcohol and Drug Program for Kosciusko Superior Court. I believe this program will be a benefit to both the citizens of your county and the citizens of our state."
At the June 12 Kosciusko County Council meeting, Jarrette gave the council an update on the program per their request, almost one year to the day the council approved the program June 13, 2002.
The program was started to address the county's substance abuse problems. Clients participating in the program are referred to it from the courts or probation department. It provides substance abuse education, and/or referrals at a low cost to clients. Clients are referred based on alcohol- or drug-related charges against them.
The program services the adult population, providing a substance abuse assessment. After an assessment, the clients are referred to the program's educational classes or to an outside source if more intensive counseling is needed. Each client's progress is monitored and reported back to the judges and probation officers.
From June 17, 2002, to June 12, 2003, the total number of clients seen referred from Superior Court II was 81, while Superior Court III referred 66 clients. Total number of clients who are from Kosciusko County but are referred to the program from out-of-county courts is 23, for a total of 170 clients. Total number of assessments scheduled from June 12 through July 22 is 48.
In an interview Wednesday, Jarrette said when you knock down someone with your right hand, you need to help pick them up with your left hand. The program helps do that because while the court may punish a drug offender for any crimes they commit, it also gets them the help they need.
"It's a two-way street," he said.
There are three types of programs, he said, they could have gone with - freestanding, contractual or probation-based. After Jarrette and Judge Joe Sutton evaluated the options, Jarrette said, they decided the probation-based program would work the best in Kosciusko County. The probation-based program is funded in part through user fees from all persons in the probation department and the county already has probation officers so the personnel already is in place.
"We wanted to make this thing as affordable as possible," said Jarrette. Many of the persons who need to use the program don't have a lot of money to pay for such a program, but the county wants to make it accessible to everyone who needs it.
For the county to operate the program, Jarrett said, the Indiana Judicial Center has to certify it six months after the county's fiscal body (county council) approves it. The evaluation of the program was conducted in January, very thoroughly, Jarrett said.
When the results came back, Jarrett said, Kosciusko County's program had the best standards in the state, setting the benchmarks for other programs in the state. Kosciusko County also has one of the least expensive programs in the state, with a charge of $150. The maximum the county could charge is $400-$500.
Of the 92 Indiana counties, in addition to Kosciusko County, 56 counties have alcohol and drug programs and 12 counties are in the process of developing programs.
"They were amazed we could do it and do it at that low (of a cost)," Jarrett said.
