Owen County starts up drug court
Court system scrapes together funds for program to help addicts quit, stay out of jail
November 12, 2005
by Laura Lane, HeraldTimesOnline.com
Submitted to Gopopai.org by Linda Brady, District 7

SPENCER - Owen County's court system may not have much money for innovations, but it has scraped together funds for a drug court to help people with addictions stay clean and out of the court system.

The court, overseen by Owen Circuit Court Juvenile Referee Lori Quillen, started two weeks ago. Three defendants are enrolled.

Owen Circuit Judge Frank Nardi said the court should eventually include 10 to 15 people at a time who agree to close monitoring and treatment in exchange for reduced or suspended jail sentences.

Nardi has patched together funding from his court budget, the probation department and from grants. User fees will help provide additional money for the program.

"We are combining our resources," Nardi said. "We have been building toward this the past year."

He said defendants who complete the program will "graduate" and not face additional penalties. Those who do not will be referred back to him for sentencing on the original charge.

"Hopefully, we can let them stay with their families and jobs while they get help for their addictions. That, we hope, will keep them out of the system," Nardi said. "That's the ultimate goal."

He said juvenile offenders will be eligible for the program in some instances. "By addressing their addiction problems early on, maybe we can keep them from returning to court as adults."

Drug court convenes on Friday mornings, Nardi said.

"If they do what they are supposed to, they will stay in drug court," Nardi said. "If not, they come back to me."

Two of the three current participants are former methamphetamine users who so far have successfully avoided the highly addictive drug that was destroying their lives.