Will County drug court to expand with grant funding

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - A new federal grant will expand the capacity of Will County's drug court, bringing 35 to 40 new defendants into the program.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Executive Larry Walsh announced the $300,000, three-year grant Thursday.

The drug court now handles about 75 non-violent defendants who are struggling with addiction to illegal narcotics and attempting to avoid felony criminal convictions. The special court has graduated more than 350 people whose criminal charges were dismissed after they completed the program.

Those allowed into the drug court program must remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find employment, follow through with treatment and attend weekly drug court sessions.

The grant money comes from the U.S. Department of Justice's 2016 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program.