Implement an adult drug treatment court program to Otter Tail County.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch, Seventh Judicial District, Otter Tail County (OTC) is applying for category 3 of the FY2021 Adult Drug Treatment Court (ADTC) Discretionary Grant Program.  OTC currently has a DWI Court that has been operational since 2008.  It is the intension of the OTC to implement an ADT Court alongside their DWI Court.  The court will accept both pre and post adjudicated felony level participants. Otter Tail County covers 2232 square miles and has a population of 58,746 (2019 census.gov).

The OTC-ADTC is requesting $500,000 for 48 months in federal funding to implement an ADTC.  The funds will be used to hire a part-time ADTC coordinator, a full-time surveillance officer, drug testing supplies and lab fees, training, and mileage for compliance officer to complete random, unannounced testing and curfew checks. Over the life of the grant, a minimum of 80 individuals will be serviced through the ADTC. 

The minimum length of time in the program is 15 months, participants are allowed to phase advance based on individual progress, and therefore, there is no maximum amount of time. 

The OTC-ADTC targets adult offenders who are charged with controlled substance crimes and other felony crimes related to drug use, who are determined to have a substance use disorder, moderate or severe, a diagnosis of dependency consistent with the most current DSM-V criteria, and who are high-need/high-risk to reoffend based on the results of the RANT assessment.  Participant must also reside within the OTC limits.  Gross misdemeanors can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based on criminal or chemical use history.   Lake Region Healthcare (LRHC), Controlled Substance Care Team provides MAT services for OTC.  LRHC currently has five MAT providers that are certified to prescribe medication to help patients overcome opioid addiction.  Members of the Care Team and a physician meet with each individual to assess for suitability for MAT services. A member from the Care Team has been identified to serve on the OTC-ADTC Team.

OTC-ADTC program has incorporated the Drug Court Ten Key Components along with National Best Practice Standards as reported in the program narrative on pages 9-12.  Data collected will include the supervision dates, arrest, conviction and/or incarceration following discharge for up to three years.  Participants self-reported reduction in substance abuse, participant’s improvement of life and overall program costs.

 
OTC DWI Court has had a BJA Drug Court Enhancement Grant in the past, 2010-DC-BX-0130