As someone facing a Minnesota drug charge, you may feel anxious and uneasy. Drug convictions often bring with them hefty penalties, among them steep fines and potential jail time. However, if your drug offense was non-violent in nature, you may be able to enter a Crow Wing County drug court as an alternative to going to jail.

Per Crow Wing County, the county’s drug court program has two important objectives. First, it holds you and others with drug convictions accountable for your actions. Second, it seeks to give you the tools and resources you need to overcome your dependency with the hope that, by doing so, you become less likely to reoffend.

How Crow Wing County’s drug court works

Drug courts take a team approach to treating your substance dependency. Often, judges, treatment professionals, probation officers, law enforcement officials and others come together to conduct the program. As a participant, you must check in regularly and undergo periodic drug testing to make sure you remain clean throughout the program’s duration.

If you fail a drug test or otherwise fail to follow all rules associated with your drug court program, you may no longer be able to participate. You may, too, face the original sanctions associated with your drug crime if you are unable to complete your drug court program.

How drug courts help communities and offenders

Drug courts have proven, positive effects on reducing substance abuse in past offenders. Research also shows that they save your community money. For every dollar your community invests in its drug court program, it receives $10 back in reduced jail, criminal justice and related costs.