From the Bench by Brent Elliott

In 1993 the Jackson County Circuit Court (Kansas City/Independence) created the first drug court in Missouri. Today there are more than 100 drug court programs throughout our State. Several state officials have proposed mandating the formation of such courts. Until this year the 43rd Circuit had not adopted its use.  Why our circuit postponed implementing this specialty court requires a little background.

Eleven years ago the judges of the 43rd Circuit, hoping to avoid the problems associated with a private, for-profit company, created what is now known as Supervision Services. This not-for-profit organization supervises those charged with criminal offenses while released bond and granted probation.  As a 100% user funded, not-for-profit entity it was the first of its kind in the State of Missouri and allowed the focus to be placed on assisting the offender to be successful on probation, regardless of his/her ability to pay. Today Supervision Services provides our circuit intensive supervision, drug testing, real-time alcohol and GPS monitoring, and many other services.  

The judges of the 43rd Circuit, seeing the need for an even more intensive level of supervision for those charged or convicted of drug offenses, and building upon the success of Supervision Services, decided to explore a special court for those charged with drug, or drug related offenses.

While other circuits have drug court programs, they are taxpayer funded and are based on a “standard” model that focuses almost exclusively on counseling, therapy, and treatment leaving little time for anything else.  The 43rd Circuit judges’ collective experience dealing with criminal offenders revealed a consistent theme - those who are employed full-time have a much higher success rate on probation, and lower recidivism rates regardless of their underlying crime.  

So in February of this year the 43rd Circuit created the Drug Treatment and Employment Court (DTEC).  As its name implies, DTEC combines the resources and intense supervision provided by Supervision Services, and is structured to allow the participant to work full-time.  DTEC will partner with businesses throughout the 5 county circuit to provide employment opportunities to those many employers would otherwise avoid.

In our next article we will explain in further detail the requirements for admission, what is expected of the offender while in DTEC, how the offender will benefit from successful completion of the program, and what is necessary for graduation.

PERSONAL NOTE: Many thanks to Judge Daren Adkins for contributing this article and the follow up article to appear next month. I used to think “March Madness” referenced the NCAA Basketball Tournaments. Many think it now describes our Presidential Elections. Unfortunately, the madness of March is always followed by April Fools.