Kosciusko County Drug Court Case Manager Ron Ousley, left, and Coordinator Barry Andrew hold incentive buckets drug court participants draw from if they have done really well. Incentives include $5-$10 gas cards or food gift cards in phase one and increase in value in phase two. Phase three incentives are more personal and tailored to the client. (Photo by Sarah Wright)

WARSAW — While still young, having only launched in January 2014, Kosciusko County Drug Court is leaving lasting impacts on the lives of its participants as they work to put their lives back in order. Just Feb. 29, the program celebrated its sixth graduate and currently has 22 clients working toward drug-free lives.

“Drug court is designed and developed for high-risk, or high-need, drug offenders,” Barry Andrew, drug court coordinator, said, noting for many, it’s their last chance to put their lives in order rather than spend decades in prison.

“I would say out of our 22 participants, we have one who is facing — if they don’t complete the program — 100 years,” Andrew said, adding this is out of the norm. “Most, if they fail, face 30 to 60 years in prison.”

However, drug court is not about getting out of charges. All would-be participants must plead guilty to all charges to get into the program. Guidelines and statutes from the state have to be followed in regards to who qualifies, such as no violent or sex offenders, and the prosecutor also has to make pleas.

Drug court Case Manager Ron Ousley regularly attends initial hearings Thursdays to find potential participants as part of his duties. “I’m actively recruiting,” he said. “The more I can recruit, the better it is for the community.”

Targeted toward high-need drug offenders, Kosciusko County Drug Court has clients complete three phases — lasting anywhere from 18 to 24 months — as they work toward graduation and a drug-free life. So far, drug court, which started in 2014, has six graduates. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Nationally drug courts save money, producing cost savings from $3,000 up to $13,000 per client. Cost savings are reflected in reductions in prison costs, recidivism rates, trials and victimization rates.

Ousley said, “Sometimes it’s tough, especially when we dive into their (potential client’s) past and uncover things that disqualify them.”

Those who join the program remain in it for a minimum of 18 months or as long as 24 months, with Andrew stating 24 months tends to be the right amount of time. Participants complete three phases during which they must meet different requirements, gradually working their way toward graduation.

Typically lasting three to four months, phase one requires orientation, detox, employment, assessment with Bowen Center staff, outpatient sessions, self-help meetings, frequent drug tests done randomly, court sessions, case management appointments among other requirements. Phase two then lasts approximately eight to nine months, with phase three being close to six to 12 months.

As they progress through the phases, the amount of time spent doing certain requirements lessens. However, random drug screening is not reduced, with Andrew stating it maintains accountability.

“It can be stressful, but more importantly, it’s rewarding,” Ousley said of his job. “You get to see people live their life again. They’ve lived by their own rules for years, come into the program and start following the rules of society. Seeing that makes all the stressful days worth it — to see someone get the sparkle back in their eyes, to have goals, to want to be sober and drug free.”

Andrew added, “Personally, the biggest success is graduates telling stories.”

One participant celebrated Thanksgiving sober for the first time in 52 years, even getting to cook dinner. Another graduate repaired his relationship with his father, with them going fishing together.

“Those are the biggest successes, the stories,” Andrew said. “They will tell them day in and out that they got their life back, their family back.”

Andrew pointed to drug court’s team for its success. “We have a really good team. We work really well together. The team deserves credit for the program’s success. We work hard as a team to do our best for our participants.”

Drug court is federally funded through a three-year grant, which has allowed the program to expand exponentially, and Ousley stated, “We are actively seeking more grants.” He added, “We also welcome all donations.”

For information, contact Kosciusko County Drug Court at (574) 372-2412.