Lake County opioid task force backs drug court; asks commission to review itemized budget next month

The Lake County Opioid Task Force on Tuesday recommended the Board of County Commissioners support creation of a drug treatment court and return next month with an itemized spending plan for approval.

The task force, which includes the county public defender, state attorney’s office representatives and treatment providers, told commissioners the court would be supervised by a judge and follow established, evidence-based drug-court practices that pair intensive supervision with treatment and peer supports.

Public Defender Michael Graves, speaking as chair of the task force, described the proposed program as an 18‑month, court‑supervised pathway for people with opioid use disorders who volunteer for the program, receive frequent drug testing and intensive treatment, and face sanctions — including jail — if they do not meet program conditions. Graves said stakeholders are prepared to begin operations and would target an October start if the commission approves funding and the structure.

Judge Heidi Davis volunteered to serve as the drug-court judge, and other criminal-justice partners in the Fifth Judicial Circuit — including the chief assistant state attorney and court administrators — told the board they have mapped needed roles and policies and expect to apply national best practices. Lifestream president and CEO Rick Hanke and task force members described a core program at area hospitals that places recovery peers in emergency rooms to engage overdose patients and connect them to same-day treatment; the drug court would be intended to expand long-term recovery options for people who repeatedly cycle through the criminal justice system.

Task force members said the program’s fiscal request will include line items for case managers, treatment slots, sober-living supports and modest compensation for state‑attorney and public‑defender staff who must devote significant time to drug‑court caseloads. Graves said the initial submission includes $20,000 requests to offset workload for both the state attorney’s office and the public defender, and that the task force believes opioid‑settlement dollars are an allowable funding source. The task force also said it will pursue state budget requests and other grants to reduce the county share over time.

Commissioners asked about measurable outcomes and cost savings. Task force members pointed to national research and local program data showing reductions in re‑arrest and recidivism for drug‑court participants and described expected savings from reduced jail days and fewer repeat prosecutions. Several commissioners asked for quarterly or semiannual performance updates and for clarity on eligibility criteria; task force members said they will provide those metrics and said violent offenders and persons with drug‑selling histories would be ineligible.

No final vote was taken Friday. Michael Graves said the presentation was informational and that the task force would return next month with an itemized budget and recommended contract language for the commission to consider. Commissioners indicated they want the detailed budget and performance metrics before taking final action.