A specialty court program is celebrating its first graduate in Mercer County.
Mercer County Drug Court launched in 2023 at the Mercer County Courthouse. The program targets people in the criminal justice system who are dealing with substance abuse and aims to treat their addiction and help re-integrate them into society by assisting them with finding work and housing.
A person can plea into the program if they’re charged with a non-aggravated felony and receive a referral from their attorney or the state if it’s deemed that they are committing crimes because of their substance abuse issue. Once in the Drug Court, the participant receives substance abuse treatment and random drug tests multiple times a week, among other check-ins.
The Mercer County Drug Court consists of a judge, the State’s Attorney’s office, a public defender, a treatment provider, and the probation office. There are currently four participants in the program.
The program held a ceremony for its first graduate last week at the Mercer County Courthouse. Mercer County Director of Probation and Drug Court Coordinator Janet Dalton and Drug Court Probation Officer Kaitlyn Krack spoke with WRMJ about the program, its inception, the significance of seeing someone graduate, and more.
You can follow the program on its Facebook page.