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County renews state drug court grant after officials cite 60% success rate
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Summary
Strafford County commissioners unanimously approved continuation of the 2026 State of New Hampshire drug court grant; staff reported 13 completions last year, about a 60% success rate and around 60 active participants, and said state funding allows broader participant eligibility than earlier federal grants.
The Strafford County Board of Commissioners voted to accept continuation of the 2026 State of New Hampshire drug court program grant, with county staff citing program outcomes and the grant’s expanded eligibility.
Diane, the county staff member who worked on the grant application, told commissioners that last year the program had 13 full completions and an estimated 60% success rate, and that the county typically keeps about 60 participants enrolled at any time: “Last year, we had 13 full completions in our program. If we're doing it right, success rate is 60 percent, and we're right in that number,” she said.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that the state grant, compared with prior federal funding, allows the county to accept a wider range of participants — including some misdemeanors — and to expand services in ways the earlier federal grant did not permit. County staff also noted budget adjustments in the grant application to cover higher county health-insurance costs for employees working on the program.
The chair described the drug court as a long-standing county program and said alternative sentencing options such as drug court offer large taxpayer savings compared with incarceration. The motion to accept the grant was moved and seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.
Next steps: staff will implement the grant-funded activities and incorporate the grant adjustments for employee health-insurance costs into program budgeting and reporting.
