Superior Court II Judge Ryan Johanningsmeier held a drug court symposium Friday with local community leaders, social workers, police, fellow judges and even teachers in an effort rally their support for a program he believes can better deal with the county's drug and alcohol offenders.
Johanningsmeier is putting into motion his plan for establishing a state-certified drug court here in Knox County. He said will need community-wide cooperation to be successful.
"I'd like us to focus on opportunity as we move forward with this," he told the gathering at the Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village.
A county drug court certified by the Indiana Judicial Center would be similar to the current Superior Court II Alcohol and Drug program, also state certified, although more intensive when it comes to things like therapy, drug testing and accountability.
Knox County has had an alcohol and drug deferral program of some kind since 1976, according to former program director Linda Murawski.
The proposed drug court would use a team of local professionals — the county prosecutor, police, the probation department, local social workers, among others — to identify offenders who could potentially be a good fit for the rehabilitation-based program.
Unlike the current Alcohol and Drug Program, it could be implemented prior to conviction and sentencing, one of the aspects Johanningsmeier is so passionate about as he believes it will provide drug offenders with more incentive to complete the program successfully and make lasting lifestyle changes.
If they do complete the program, the charges against them would be dropped, Johanningsmeier said. If they don't, they'll go to jail.
“We need to deal with these people locally, with local resources, instead of sending them away to jail only to see them return with the same problem,” Johanningsmeier told the crowd.
The program, which could take on 20 participants at a time, begins with its most intensive phase. Offenders must attend daily group therapy meetings, submit to weekly drug testing and seek gainful employment. They must also appear before Johanningsmeier once per week, another of his reasons for pushing the program so hard.
“It's the authority of the court that moves the process along,” he said. “It provides the structure they are lacking.”
If offenders complete the first phase successfully they move on to subsequent phases, each one calling for less accountability until they graduate from the program after two years of treatment.
Gibson County Superior Court Judge Earl Penrod recently implemented a drug court there; there are more than 33 counties that now have such courts.
He encouraged Knox County's leaders to follow suit by implementing the stricter program.
“We have to be smarter in our approach,” he said. “If we think locking them up and throwing away the key will resolve the issue, then shame on us.”
Drug courts, Penrod said, have been “demonstrated to work” all over the state, which is why more and more counties are implementing them. Providing for the offenders “robust and legitimate treatment options” is key to keeping them out of jail, he said.
And a successful program, he added, focuses on “incentives” rather than “punishment.”
City police chief Dusty Luking called a drug court a “step in the right direction” to combat the county's growing drug program. Knox County is listed in the top 10 of Indiana's worst drug-offending counties, according to a study done by the Indiana University Center for Health Policy.
“This looks at all types of resources and has them come together to deal with a problem we've had for a long time,” he said. “There are, of course, names that have already popped into my head that could benefit from a program like this.
"We've seen a lot of success with programs like Life After Meth, people who are learning to lead productive lives.
“Of course we'll have failures here and there, but we'll also have those who succeed, and what a great thing that would be.”
Knox County prosecutor Dirk Carnahan said he thought a drug court a “great concept,” although its success will hinge on being run properly and by the right people.
“This has the potential to impact a lot of lives,” he said. “I don't think it's something that will affect our overall caseload or the existing (drug) climate in our community, but it is a specialized program that could help upwards of 30-40 people every two years.
“Do I think it's worthwhile? Yes, but it won't automatically make everything better.”
Johanningsmeier isn't asking the county council to fund the drug court as the existing Alcohol and Drug Program has been self-sustaining for years from its own user fees. Johanningsmeier plans to use that same foundation — as well as the current program's employees — to begin the drug court, and county councilman Randy Crismore said he will have to see positive results before voting to throw any money at it.
“I think it's a very bold plan,” said Crismore, a retired police officer. “I've been to at least two other drug symposiums on drug courts before, and I've always felt like its structure is something that helps the offender get out from underneath their addiction. And it holds them a heck of a lot more accountable than the program we currently have.
“It's just something we will have to look at later on, study it, and see if it warrants the support of county funds.”
Johanningsmeier hopes to have the drug court, which would be led by current Alcohol and Drug Program coordinator Dr. David McIntyre, in place by the spring.