Adult Drug Recovery court likely will begin in May

The Bartholomew County Adult Drug Recovery Court will likely begin sessions in mid-May.

The Columbus City Council and Bartholomew County Council have approved splitting the $92,603 cost to fund a part-time family law magistrate, special drug court prosecutor, public defender and other operating costs.

With a goal of reuniting families and repairing lives, problem-solving drug courts create a team focused on rebuilding lives so individuals can re-enter the community rather than continue a cycle of repeated arrests and jail time, according to Bartholomew Circuit Judge Kelly Benjamin, who will be overseeing the court.

Federal funding of $500,000 had already been obtained for the adult drug court from 2019 through 2022.

But there were non-financial concerns regarding whether the state would allow the local drug court to begin this spring, Benjamin said.

During an interview, representatives of the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) recommended a number of changes to proposed policies and procedures submitted by local officials, the judge said.

“All of the sudden, on the morning after the city council gave their approval, we got a letter that said ‘welcome’ and ‘congratulations — you are provisionally certified,’ “ Benjamin said during an Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress meeting on Monday.

Provisional certification allows the drug court to begin operations, but state representatives from court services will be back to review the court this August to consider granting permanent certification, Benjamin said.

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For more information about the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress, visit asapbc.org.

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