For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – Wood County Adult Drug Treatment Court is a cost-effective, efficient judicial model, designed to bridge the gap between the criminal justice system and treatment in an effort to break the cycle of addiction and reduce criminal behavior of non-violent drug offenders.

There are currently 34 participants in the program with a capacity of 35. There have been 242 participants in total since the program began in 2004. Participants are in substance abuse and/or mental health treatment through groups and individual sessions, are randomly drug tested two or three times per week, and attend court on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis in front of Judge Todd Wolf. In certain circumstances, the participant may be in the program on an Alternative to Revocation (ATR) through probation and parole, where completing the program means they won’t be revoked and sent to prison. The program lasts, on average, 12-15 months, with a participant receiving legal advantage of having felony drug charges dismissed. Participants are ultimately working to break their cycle of addiction.

Not only does this program benefit participants, but it also benefits the community. On average, the Drug Court Program saves tax payers $50 per person, daily, in incarceration costs. Since 2007, Wood County saved tax payers $867,120 in incarceration costs.

The program works as a team with ATTIC Correctional Services, District Attorney’s Office, Probation and Parole, Public Defenders Office, Wood County Courts, Wood County Human Services, and all Wood County Law Enforcement Agencies. The program is a collaborative effort to create a dynamic team of individuals to help participants succeed and become productive members of the community.