Carroll/Grant/Owen County Drug Court prepares for graduation

Ceremony coincides with National Treatment Court Month

FRANKFORT, Ky., May 1, 2024 – The latest participant to complete the Carroll/Grant/Owen County Circuit Drug Court program will be recognized at a graduation ceremony on May 14 in Owenton. The event will take place at 2 p.m. EDT in the Circuit Courtroom of the Owen County Judicial Center, 401 Main St. The public and media are invited to attend.

“May is National Treatment Court Month,” said Circuit Court Judge R. Leslie Knight, who volunteers to serve as the Drug Court judge. “There is no better way to recognize it than this graduation. Let’s celebrate one of the most successful strategies for cutting crime, reducing substance use and saving lives and valuable tax dollars.”

Judge Knight is scheduled to preside over the graduation. While the Drug Court program serves three counties, which make up the 15^th Judicial Circuit, the graduate is from Owen County.

In addition to the public and media, invitees to the graduation ceremony include law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys and substance use counselors.

About Kentucky Drug Court

Kentucky Drug Court operates as part of the Department of Specialty Courts at the Administrative Office of the Courts. Drug Court was Kentucky’s first Specialty Court program. Since being introduced as a pilot program in 1996, Drug Court has grown to all 120 counties.

Drug Court serves nonviolent offenders whose primary challenges stem from substance use disorder. This court-managed program offers treatment, intensive supervision, drug testing and case management at no cost to the participants. Some counties provide programs for both felony- and misdemeanor-level offenses. Those who complete the Drug Court program may have their charges dismissed through diversion or be granted conditional discharge through probation.

Drug Court provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional criminal case processing. Graduates are more likely to return to productive lives, stay gainfully employed, pay child support and meet other obligations.

To learn more about Specialty Courts, visit https://kcoj.info/SpecialtyCourts