Another $60,000 From DHFS Funds Methamphetamine Treatment Pilot
in St. Croix County

HUDSON - Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Matt Frank today visited with members of the St. Croix County Drug Court Team to talk about the success of its new court, which is receiving $50,000 annually from the DOC. 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 drug court funding is in addition to $60,000 for methamphetamine treatment in St. Croix County from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS).

“At the Department of Corrections, we are active partners and avid supporters for the development of drug and other treatment courts in the state to hold offenders accountable for their crimes,” Secretary Frank said. “Approximately 70 percent of offenders entering our prison system need alcohol or drug treatment, and we are extremely pleased to be partnering with St. Croix and other counties, and the many local partners involved. It is a wise investment that will pay dividends down the road with fewer new crimes, fewer new victims and enhanced public safety.”

As law enforcement agencies continue their strong efforts to combat methamphetamine abuse in the region, the DOC will continue to be a strong partner in holding methamphetamine and other drug offenders accountable. The $50,000 in DOC funding is being used to provide non-residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment for St. Croix County Drug Court participants who are under DOC supervision, including those with methamphetamine addiction. The court began in April 2006.

St. Croix is one of five new or existing drug court programs for which the DOC has committed $50,000 in annual funding in northwest Wisconsin, totaling $250,000 a year. Barron, Eau Claire, Pierce and Trempealeau counties also were allocated funds for their programs from the 2005-07 budget.

Secretary Frank offered thanks to the local entities in St. Croix County which have worked to start the county's new drug court, 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 and other stakeholders. To date, the program has had six participants, all of whom are supervised by the DOC.

The funding by both the DOC and DHFS exemplifies Governor Doyle's ongoing commitment toward fighting methamphetamine abuse in Wisconsin. Earlier this year, Governor Doyle announced a $250,000 grant to the Western Wisconsin Methamphetamine Action Consortium for methamphetamine prevention and treatment efforts. 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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08/16/06