Drug court feasibility to be studied

Judge Dale Creitz of the 31st Judicial District and Ruth St. Clair of Thrive Allen County asked County Commissioners Tuesday for their blessing in pursuing a grant to establish a drug court in Allen County.
The grant, which Thrive will apply for through the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, would pay for a consultant to research the viability of establishing such a court here.
“We need to make sure we have the caseloads to support that,” St. Clair said.
There are 11 drug courts in Kansas, Creitz said. The smallest is in Gary County, which has 30,000 residents, he said.
“The advantage of drug courts is it creates a big structure,” Creitz told commissioners.
Drug courts offer a “very structured, intensive set of rules with set responsibilities” for offenders, Creitz said.
“It’s basically a contract” between the offender and the court, Creitz explained. “They have certain things they need to do, and if they don’t” they face incarceration, Creitz said.
Creitz envisioned the court meeting twice each month in the large courtroom in Iola.
It would be open only to non violent offenders facing misdemeanors and low level felonies, St. Clair said.
Creitz said he thinks Allen County has the caseloads to warrant such a court.
“Is this study also going to look into who’s going to implement it and how much it’s going to cost,” asked Commissioner Dick Works.
“Exactly,” St. Clair replied. “We understand the county is strapped and funding has to come form outside,” she said.
In fact, St. Clair said, the county’s portion of matching funds necessary for the grant can come in the form of staff time through the judge’s office, she said, and not require an out of pocket expense.
“It doesn’t cost anything to see if it’s feasible,” Creitz noted.
St. Clair said that Allen County Sheriff Tom Williams supports the court.
“This was his idea, actually,” she said.
The study could take up to 12 months, St. Clair said.