Reno County drug diversion offers some another chance

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – The Reno County first-time drug offender diversion program began at the beginning of this year. Since then, 21 people have been involved with the program, and only one has not succeeded so far.

“The best benefit is that they move away from drug use and become productive citizens,” District Attorney Tom Stanton said. “If they’re successful and become productive citizens, we’re not spending money on prosecution, arrest and detention, jail and court costs and so on. We don’t use jail as a sanction much in this program, so we’re saving money in the county jail.”

If people complete the program and its requirements, their case gets dismissed.

“They don’t have to be explaining to employers, or housing officials or when they’re applying for student loans that they’ve got this conviction in their background,” Stanton said. “The goal is that we’ll be using the same resources to help them as we would if they’ve been convicted.”

Stanton said they planned to have 50 in the program for the year, so they’re pretty close to where they expected to be now. He says one of the best parts is giving people resources to live drug-free lives.

“They go through the programs, go through treatment, they’re going in a meeting with their community corrections supervisor, and they’re just doing the things that they need to do to move away from the use of drugs and to a more a more stable lifestyle,” Stanton said. “It’s just a great program for them. Same thing they would be doing if they were convicted, but the benefits are greater. We’re still holding them accountable. They’re still charged with the crime. If they fail, they’re going to be convicted, and they’re going to continue to be assisted by corrections, and now the community and the person is going to benefit from the program.”

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