By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – A 10-year old program aimed to keep McLean County drug offenders in treatment and out of jail has received a certification from the Illinois Supreme Court.
Certification of the McLean County Drug Court took two years and ensures the program is up to date with best practices to help addicts get treatment, avoid jail, and provide an environment for them to become active and productive members of society, according to Mark Fellheimer, who is chief judge of the circuit that includes McLean County.
Drug court is an intensive probation program requiring drug defendants to attend court regularly, submit to heavy monitoring, and drug testing. They’re also required to undergo treatment and obtain employment.
In a statement, Judge Fellheimer said, “Becoming certified by the Illinois Supreme Court is something to be celebrated and is the culmination of countless hours spent by the entire McLean County Drug Court team led by Circuit Judge Casey Costigan with the assistance of many others, including, but not limited to, McLean County Court Services Director Cassy Taylor and her staff. This certification ensures that the McLean County Drug Court Program is up to date with best practices to assist those that have a drug addiction to get help, avoid jail and foster an environment to allow them to become active and productive members of society. This also reduces the rising costs of incarceration to McLean County and society as a whole. Drug Court is an intensive probation program involving the McLean County State’s Attorney Office, McLean County Public Defender’s Office, treatment providers and Probation staff requiring defendants to attend court on a regular and heavily monitored basis, undergo treatment, obtain employment, and be drug tested over a sustained period of time to promote and foster change in the defendant’s life.”
McLean County’s Recovery or Mental Health Court and Veterans Treatment Court are also under Supreme Court review.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
