WINNEBAGO COUNTY EXPLORES STARTING DRUG COURT PROGRAM

OSHKOSH -- A coalition of judges and Winnebago County departments are
beginning the planning stages of a court program that, if instituted, would
treat the addictions behind drug-related crimes.

Members of the Winnebago County Safe Streets Initiative announced plans to
institute a drug court program in Winnebago County.

Drug courts generally deal with to address drug issues without jail or
prison terms through frequent court contact, regular drug testing and
treatment. Judges often use jail as a sanction for those who violate the
terms of their drug court program.

Those who abide by rules and complete requirements have their criminal
charges dropped.

Three Wisconsin counties -- Dane, La Crosse and Monroe -- are operating
drug courts.

Winnebago County Circuit Judge Scott Woldt cited the success of programs
like that in Hastings, Minn., which reaches out to both drug and alcohol
defendants.

"They had a 17 percent reduction in recidivism," he said. "They're
two-and-half times bigger than Winnebago County and they have half the
number of people in their jail than we do here."

While such programs have only been used in the United States since 1989,
research has found that they've met several goals.

The average recidivism rate nationwide for those who complete a drug court
program is between 4 and 29 percent, compared with 48 percent among drug
defendants who do not participate in drug courts, according to the National
Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Woldt would like to take a Winnebago County drug court in a direction that
hasn't been taken in Wisconsin, and he'll need a change in state law to do it.

He requested the County Board lobby the state Legislature to allow courts
to sentence second- and third-time drunken drivers to probation, which
would allow them to participate in the program. Currently, jail sentences
and fines are the only sentencing options judges have for those arrested on
second or third drunken driving offenses.

If You Go

What: Judge Scott Woldt and representatives from Hastings, Minn. will
discuss the Safe Streets program during a meeting of the Winnebago County
Board.

Where: Winnebago County Courthouse, fourth floor

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday