mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com
With the lifting of some restrictions due to COVID-19, Compass Drug Court officials are hopeful they will see some semblance of normal soon.
“We’re doing well and chugging along and hopefully we’ll get back in person,” said Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi, who oversees the program.
Compass Drug Court was launched Jan. 28, 2019. The minimum time in the program for a successful completion is 14 months.
The first two graduates of the Compass Drug Court were celebrated in July at the Washington County Courthouse.
Kerenyi said they’ve had several more drug court graduates.
“We’ll bring them back when we’re done with COVID and have a graduation party,” he said.
mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com
Washington County’s Compass Drug Court has received final certification and a $500,000 federal grant.
Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi, who oversees the program operated by Oriana House, said the federal grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance program will fund the drug court for the next three years.
“The drug court has been funded with (Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison) funds through the (Washington County) Behavioral Health Board, so now we have that money to divert to something else,” he explained.
Kerenyi said the drug court contracts with Oriana House for counseling and drug tests. The grant will be used to fund the Compass program coordinator, case worker, drug tests, electronic monitoring and GPS costs, said Eric Brockmeier, Oriana House program manager for correctional programs. Treatment costs are paid through Medicaid or private insurance.