Southwestern Indiana county gets grant to expand drug court

VINCENNES, Ind. (AP) - A southwestern Indiana county has landed a $500,000 federal grant that will allow officials to nearly double the county's drug court.

Knox County's courts will use the Justice Department funding to hire another full-time case worker, buy portable breathalyzer machines and make other improvements to expand the drug court over the next four years.

Superior Court Judge Ryan Johanningsmeier says the program grew from 10 to 30 participants last year, and the new funding could allow it to expand next year to more than 50 participants.

Drug courts allow eligible participants to avoid criminal prosecution and jail time, in part by completing substance-abuse treatment.

The Vincennes Sun-Commercial reports drug courts typically take between 18 and 24 months to complete, allowing graduates to return to the workforce.

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Information from: Vincennes Sun-Commercial, http://www.vincennes.com