Drug, DUI, veterans treatment courts encourage recovery
Some people are arrested once for driving under the influence, but repeat offenders may be referred to a special court that facilitates a closer working relationship between treatment and the criminal justice system.
Butler County’s Drug Treatment Court, DUI Court and Veterans Treatment Court each help people with addiction issues stop the cycle of recidivism.
“DUI court is a way we try to fast-track the cases to try to get them processed as quickly as possible from arrest to final resolution,” said Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCune, who has played a role in all three of the courts.
McCune was the county’s district attorney in 1995 when he saw a need for and founded the DUI Court.
“The cases used to linger in the court system, and we made a conscious effort to keep close eyes on the cases and get them resolved and see that people got the treatment they needed or the punishment they needed.”
The court is intended for people who have repeated DUI arrests.
Meanwhile, the Butler County Drug Treatment Court, founded around the same time as the DUI court, is designed for individuals with a substance abuse problem that has led to repeated non‐violent criminal behavior, and veterans treatment court places veterans struggling with addiction and mental health issues under intensive court supervision and treatment.
McCune also has presided over the county's veterans' treatment court since its inception in 2012.
Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Kubit presides over drug court in Butler County, where Adam Kummer, the Drug Treatment Court probation officer, works with individuals referred to the program.
“We have seen very low recidivism rates for those who have successfully completed the program,” Kummer said.
The Drug Treatment Court combines drug and alcohol treatment, rehabilitation and other support services with more intensive court supervision for those referred to the system, he said.
At its outset, participants are required to report at least three times a week to a probation officer. The officer is required to verify employment; attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or other program meetings; attendance at counseling; interaction with a sponsor; payment of financial obligations; and abstinence of drug use.
Kummer, who has been with the court since 2016, said he is currently overseeing 34 people who are either in the court system or have recently completed it. He also said it can take about 18 months for an individual to “graduate” from the program, after which they typically are sentenced to a period of probation.
“I have witnessed participants and graduates enroll and graduate from college, successful employment and careers, obtain stable and safe housing, maintained sobriety, and reunification of families,” Kummer said.
According to McCune, getting people into treatment not only gets them into a regimen, it help keeps them from getting further offenses.
“We work with the DA's office, the police and the magistrate's offices to try to get those cases into Common Pleas as soon as they can, and have them ready to be resolved as soon as they can,” McCune said. “It does two additional things, it makes the highways safer if we get those people not drinking and driving, but it also may help them from getting another DUI offense.”
Participants who remain drug free are more likely to become productive members of the community, thereby benefiting all aspects of the criminal justice system and society, according to a fact sheet by the Drug Treatment Court. Kummer said the same, seeing that people who go through the court system get support they might not otherwise get in the regular court system.
“Drug Treatment Court aids in giving the tools and individualized support that is tailored to the participant’s needs for long-term sobriety and success,” Kummer said. “Overall, drug treatment courts have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing substance abuse issues within the criminal justice system and have provided an alternative and positive outcome path for the participants of the program.”
McCune said outcomes for repeat offenders has been better since the courts have been active in Butler County.
“If you can stop someone with a serious substance disorder a repeat number of times, it helps society, and it helps the client,” McCune said.
Eagle assignment editor Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.
