Kittitas drug court turns 10

Posted on May 30, 2013

By REPORTER NAME

Yakima Herald-Republic

Kittitas Countys drug court program is marking its 10th birthday, and has graduated 71 offenders since it was first organized in 2003.

Emily Brown, drug court coordinator, said 18 people are currently enrolled, and there are about 28 to 22 in drug court at a given time.

Brown, along with Kittitas County Deputy Prosecutor Candace Hooper, are the two remaining members of the group that organized the drug court program.

The court or defense attorneys refer chemically dependent offenders involved in some kinds of non-violent crimes for enrollment in the program.

We want them to get sober, thats what its about, Brown said. The combination of court staff and volunteers from the prosecutors office, the state Department of Corrections, law enforcement and treatment specialists all work together to provide support and show offenders how their substance abuse problems affect their families and community.

But ultimately, theyre doing it for themselves, she said.

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Kittitas drug court turns 10