(Spirit Lake)– The District Court for Dickinson and Clay counties will launch its first Adult Drug Treatment Court beginning tomorrow, April 1st. District Judge John Sandy spearheaded the program and will preside over the docket with the assistance of District Judge Shayne Mayer.
The Adult Drug Treatment Court will be in session three times a month to review new applicants and existing participants and will review the status of existing cases. The County Attorney’s Offices in Clay and Dickinson counties, the Public Defender’s Office, law enforcement, and a number of other agencies, along with substance use disorder treatment centers, will be participating in the treatment court.
Qualified defendants are first time offenders, repeat offenders, or those who have violated probation in an existing case. They also must be a resident of Clay or Dickinson county and must be deemed qualified for the program through a screening process by the Department of Corrections. Referrals will be accepted from law enforcement, the county attorney’s office, detention centers, lawyers, and other judges.
Judge Sandy says the goal is to build a network and provide resources to help get people back on their feet.
The addition of the Dickinson and Clay County Drug Court brings the total number of adult drug treatment courts in Iowa to 15.
