In 2013 Drug Court was created in Boone County. The mission of Boone County Drug Court is to promote public safety, reduces recidivism and enhances the quality of life for the community and the individual by helping substance dependent persons in the criminal justice system achieve and maintain recovery through expedited and enhanced access to a continuum of treatment and support services while under intensive court supervision. Drug Court is a program that works with high risk/high needs clients who have been convicted of a non-violent felony and have a diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder. The program is funded by the State of Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Adult Redeploy Illinois. The goal of the program is to divert 25% of individuals who would have been incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections, by safely providing intense supervision in the community, which offers cost savings to our community and state. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections Financial Impact Statement, "the cost of incarcerating an individual in the Department facility during Fiscal Year 2020 was $34,362.00." The cost per person of individuals diverted through Boone County Drug Court for State Fiscal Year 2020 was $5,886.00. Drug Court is one attempt to curb the problem of recidivism. Simply sending people to prison does not assure that a person will not reoffend in the future. Instead, Drug Court (as run in our county) is a hybrid between sentencing and post-sentencing. If a client is successful in drug court, they do not go to prison; if unsuccessful, they are sentenced to prison. Drug Court requires frequent contact with the probation officer, drug testing and court appearances in front of the Judge. The data shows the extensive contact in Drug Courts reduces the likelihood the defendant will reoffend. For information on how to make a referral to the Drug Court Program, please contact the Court Coordinator at 815-544-9806. To make a referral to the Boone County Drug Court, complete the form below and return it to the Probation Department. Boone County Drug Court Referral Form Court Coordinator: Jenny Crotchett, Court Coordinator 815-544-9806
