T-R FILE PHOTO Jacob Hansen, second from left, graduated from Marshall County’s Enhanced Supervision Court (ESC), also known as Drug Court in February. Pictured alongside him are Judge John Haney, left, Hansen’s father Jay, middle, his stepmother Jamie Bland, second from right, and his brother-in-law Dan Speese, right.

This simple refrain, “Show Up-Be Honest-Try Hard” is a key to success for everyone. Here in Marshalltown, we have adopted this catchphrase to help court involved individuals who are also experiencing substance use and/or mental health issues change their lives.

It should come as no surprise that crime and substance use disorder go hand in hand. Individuals driven by addiction fill our criminal, juvenile, family law, substance abuse, and mental health court dockets. While jail and prison may provide a short-term reprieve of abstinence and sobriety, rarely will incarceration result in treating the underlying substance use disorders fueling crime in our communities. The cycle repeats itself, continuing the devastating results to individuals, children, crime victims, and families in our communities.

Drug Treatment Courts were started in the late 1980’s as an innovative way to break this cycle of addiction and recidivism. Today there are over 4,000 treatment courts in the United States, and over forty in the state of Iowa. These treatment courts help to lead people struggling with addiction out of the justice system and into lives of recovery, stability, and health.

Enhanced Supervision Treatment Court (ESC) is a treatment court program initiated here in Marshall County in 2015. Like other treatment courts (i.e., Adult Drug Treatment Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, Mental Health Courts), ESC is designed to treat individuals involved in the criminal justice system who are suffering from substance use and mental health disorders. We hold them accountable for their behavior while giving them the tools they need to change their lives.

Our program has proven its value to the community and continues to grow. Initially, we were only serving five participants due to a lack of funding. We were lucky enough to receive a federal grant from the Department of Justice in 2021 which allowed our program to expand. We are currently changing the lives of over twenty-five individuals. Our hope is to receive long-term funding here in Iowa to continue this programming.

The ESC program here in Marshall County uses objective, evidence-based criteria to identify high risk/high need individuals who would otherwise be sent to prison as a result of their criminal activity. Participants appear in court weekly, undergo random urinalysis testing, electronic monitoring, unannounced home visits, substance use counseling and treatment, cognitive therapy, and other treatment and therapy resources ranging from Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) to therapy and treatment to address unresolved trauma and other mental health issues.

The program utilizes evidence-based incentives and sanctions to promote positive change for our participants. We celebrate efforts toward recovery, sobriety, and honesty. Relapse is often part of the recovery process. Honesty and self-reporting concerning relapse typically results in a therapeutic response and support. Dishonesty and attempts to deceive are addressed with sanctions such as community service, an essay or report, or a short jail sanction. Our team helps participants to find sober living arrangements, employment, substance use and mental health treatment.

The Marshall County ESC team consists of a District Court Judge, a Probation Officer, a Substance Use Treatment Provider, a Mental Health Treatment Provider, a Prosecuting Attorney, a Defense Attorney, a Vocational/Rehabilitation Provider, and a Law Enforcement Representative (currently our Police Chief).

This program, like any other intervention, is not 100% successful. Nonetheless, by delivering individualized, evidence-based treatment, intensive supervision, drug testing, and social services, treatment courts save lives and reduce crime.

Drug Treatment Courts are cost effective. Not only is the treatment court approach effective and humane, but it also saves considerable money for taxpayers. Research shows that treatment courts produce benefits of $6,208 per participant and return up to $27 for every $1 invested. A National Institute of Justice study found that there is a public savings of $6,744 per participant when compared to a traditional courtroom process. For every dollar that is invested in a Drug Treatment Court, the community receives a two-to-four-dollar benefit. In Iowa for FY2021, the average cost of incarceration was $106.69 per day and the average cost of a residential facility was $114.22 per day. The average cost per participant in a Drug Treatment Court was $20.28 per day.

Drug Treatment Courts reduce crime. The U.S. Department of Justice conducted the largest and most comprehensive independent multisite study to date and found drug courts reduce crime by up to 58 percent. Additional benefits were found to include increases in employment, education, family functioning, and financial stability.

The ESC program here in Marshall County reduces crime, saves money, reunites families, and reduces recidivism with high risk/high need individuals. Our program meets every Friday at 1:00 p.m. in the Grand Courtroom of our Courthouse. Feel free to come and observe how Iowa’s Judicial Branch is proactively addressing substance use and crime here in Marshall County. By Showing Up, Being Honest, and Trying Hard, we all promote success and improve our community.

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The Honorable John J. Haney is a district court judge

for the Second Judicial District of Iowa.