01/22/2019- There’s a wait list forming for Marinette County’s Drug Court. Judge Jim Morrison gave an update to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee last week and says a lack of available sober living facilities in the area is largely to blame for the backup. To better the odds of success, participants in the early stages of the program are not allowed to live independently or with family. Anthony House in Marinette is the only group home able to accommodate those in Drug Court, but they limit the number of beds available for the program to four. Marinette County Health and Human Services Director Robin Elsner says that restriction must be in place to preserve the balance of services the home offers.
This is the first time Marinette County has faced this type of an issue since the Drug Court was established. Judge Morrison says a secondary problem caused by the delay is that those participants waiting for a bed are being housed at the Marinette County jail, driving up jail costs and population numbers.
The Drug Court currently has 17 participants and Judge Morrison says at least three others are in custody waiting to be admitted to the program.