Door County is sharpening its focus on having a drug treatment court in operation by June 1st. The court is designed to help those convicted of illegal drug use and related offenses deal with their substance abuse issues. The courts emphasize treatment and taking responsibility for one's actions over incarceration. Door County District Attorney Colleen Nordin says April will be a key month in making the drug treatment court a reality.
There are currently 3,000 drug treatment courts in the U.S. The National Drug Court Resource Center says the most successful programs have reduced the recidivism rate by 35 to 40 percent. That means taxpayers save nearly $6,750 per drug court participant.