Crow Wing County Drug & Sobriety Court

The Crow Wing County Adult Drug Court began operation in June, 2006. This court is for chemically dependent adults who have entered the criminal court system and are determined to be chemically dependent.

The participant is in the program for 18 months at a minimum, and are required to meet in court bi-weekly for the first 8 months to talk to the Judge about their progress. They are closely monitored by a probation officer and must submit to random drug testing several times a month. As the participant begins to recover from their addiction, they are required to get a job or continue their education, reunite with family and children if they have them, pay for the program or complete community service work, and remain sober.

The purpose of the fund raising is to provide incentives for the program, as it has been shown through numerous studies that sanctions and incentives are both important. Participants appear before the Judge, and if they are doing everything that is required of them are allowed to draw for candy, gift cards, books, etc.

An additional and important component are the sanctions. Any relapse is met with a sanction either at the time of a positive urinalysis test or admittance to use, or at their next appearance in court. Most relapse requires jail time and the length is determined by the Judge and Drug Court Team.

A recent 4 year evaluation of the program found a statistically significant success rate of the participants when compared with other drug addicted non-participants who went through traditional courts.

This court isn't about just stopping people from using, it's here to help participants change every aspect of their life. It's about helping people become productive members of society. it's about giving children their parents back, and parents their children back. It's showing participants that there are people who care about them, and that life can be better.