Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — The Regional Driving Under the Influence and Drug Court program in the five-county Western Upper Peninsula is four years old and has achieved some significant success.
It covers 97th and 98th district courts in Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw, Ontonagon and Gogebic counties. At a regional meeting two weeks ago, the court was able to show some impressive statistics.
Kelly Plutchak, of Ontonagon, is administrator of the program. She told the Ontonagon Rotary last week there were 67 participants this fiscal year, with 18 in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, and 49 in Houghton, Baraga and Keweenaw.
Not everyone who has been arrested for drunk driving is eligible for the court. There has to be more than one arrest and participants face a strenuous 15 months before they are released. The court team consists of a judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation officer-case manager, treatment provider, mental health provider and law enforcement.
Plutchak said the key to the court is a team that can work together to provide the participant with the skills, motivation and support to overcome the substance disorder.
Plutchak said each participant goes through five tough phases in the 15 months, which includes, in addition to other regimens, daily alcohol tests, weekly appearances before a judge, random home visits from law enforcement, $500 in payment to be eligible, curfews, attendance in a 12-step program and an established treatment plan.
Plutchak said the successful completion rate in the first half of the fiscal year, through September, was 60 percent in the first quarter and 73 percent in the second quarter. The number of re-arrests while in the program was just under 6 percent in the first quarter and under 3 percent in the second quarter.
With the large amount of drug and alcohol testing done in the program, just 1.3 percent in the first quarter and 2.5 percent in the second quarter tested positive during the program.
The Michigan Supreme Court announced last week more than $10 million has been awarded to 81 courts statewide to continue to fund the operations. One of the grants was to the 97th District Court of Ontonagon and Gogebic counties.
The most recent report by the state said graduates of Michigan Drug Courts are two times less likely to commit another offense after two years. Plutchak said she feels the drug court has had a positive effect in reducing the rates of repeat DWI and drug offenders in the area.
