August 22, 2006

Department of Corrections Invests $50,000 Per Year in Barron County Drug Court, Other Treatment

Another $60,000 From DHFS Funds
Outpatient Methamphetamine Treatment
 in Barron County

(BARRON)¾Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Matt Frank today visited with members of the Barron County Drug Court Team to talk about the success of its court, which is receiving part of a $50,000 annual treatment funding commitment from the DOC to the county. Governor Jim Doyle's 2005-07 budget includes funds to purchase alcohol and drug treatment services for offenders on probation, parole or extended supervision. The funding is in addition to $60,000 for methamphetamine treatment in Barron County from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS).

“These funds underscore Governor Doyle’s strong commitment to fight methamphetamine abuse in Barron County and Wisconsin,” Secretary Frank said. “Drug and other treatment courts hold great promise with enhanced accountability and important programming to address the underlying causes of crime, since approximately 70 percent of offenders entering our prison system are in need of alcohol or drug treatment.”

The DOC supports innovative measures that promote community safety through accountability and treatment, which together can effectively lower recidivism in the long run. The Barron County Drug Court is one of five new or existing drug court programs for which the DOC has committed annual funding in northwest Wisconsin, totaling $250,000 a year in treatment funds for all five counties. The funding is allocated in the 2005-07 budget for Barron, Eau Claire, Pierce, St. Croix and Trempealeau counties.

The Barron County Drug Court began operating in January 2006 and number of offenders in the program grew from five to nine once the DOC funds were awarded in May and July. All nine offenders have a history of methamphetamine use, and six of them have methamphetamine-specific convictions. Each drug court participant receives intensive outpatient treatment through the Barron County Health & Human Services Department.

Secretary Frank praised local partners including the Circuit Court, the District Attorney's office, the Sheriff’s Department, the Public Defender's office, county human services, the DOC's Division of Community Corrections, the St. Croix Tribe and other stakeholders.

Barron County is receiving an additional $60,000 in methamphetamine treatment as part of a $250,000 grant that Governor Doyle announced earlier this year for the Western Wisconsin Methamphetamine Action Consortium. The consortium includes: Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn counties, and the St. Croix Tribe.

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08/22/06