New appointed Letcher County commonwealth's attorney says drug diversion program a plus

This summer has marked a period of transition in Letcher Circuit Court. Former public defender Matt Butler became the Commonwealth’s attorney for the far eastern Kentucky county in July. Butler said his county is using a drug treatment referral pilot program. He said it helps address a need and also allows for taking on other crimes.

“That doesn’t make you softer on crime. It means you can focus and be tougher on the violent crime and just not be bogged down in everything else. And I think it will make people safer. That’s definitely the goal,” said Butler.

Butler said those with drug addictions don’t need to detox in a jail cell and that often doesn’t work. The newly appointed Commonwealth’s attorney said there’s no shortage of treatment options.

Butler noted SB 90, which established a behavioral health conditional dismissal program, is being used. He added drug-related cases do affect the court docket.

“They’re clogging up the pipeline for sure. There are too many cases taking too long to get done. And we can send those people to treatment immediately. The day they are arrested…they might be in treatment that night. We also have drug court here. I loved drug court when I was a defense attorney. I volunteered on a couple other drug courts in other counties,” said Butler.

Butler said the Safer Kentucky Act passed earlier this year in Frankfort offers more tools in addressing criminal activity. He said it means longer jail time for those on a different spectrum when it comes to illegal drugs and crime.

Butler took over in prosecution following the retirement of Edison Banks. Banks and Butler are both on the ballot for this fall’s election.

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