NEW CASTLE —
Lawrence County’s Drug Court has been so successful it is calling for the addition of a supervisory probation position.
The salary board voted 5-0 Monday to create the full-time position of adult probation treatment counselor at an annual pay of $40,000 plus benefits.
Voting were the three commissioners — Dan Vogler, Steve Craig and Bob Del Signore — Controller David Gettings and President Judge Dominick Motto.
The drug court was started last February as a way for non-felon drug offenders to work off their charges, avoid jail and improve their lives by enrolling in an intensive rehabilitative program, overseen by the courts, adult probation and Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol.
Motto told the salary board Monday the program “has greatly exceeded our expectations.”
Six people who enrolled in it have been able to overcome years of drug addiction and one person is planning to start classes at Butler County Community College. Another enrollee is working and is arranging to get her children back.
One mother was able to wake up on Christmas morning with her children, Motto said.
“Each one has had a complete change in her life,” he said, “and there are many, many more people to help. The program is working and changing lives.”
The adult probation position also is needed for other treatment programs, such as mental health court and veterans treatment court, where the position will be used to closely supervise the people going through them, Motto said, “so we could score all of those avenues.”
He pointed out that the work “is labor intensive. The person in the position has to keep close tabs on these people until we can wean them off of their support systems.”
He noted a grant obtained through Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol will allocate $35,000 for the position.
Vogler asked whether the drug and alcohol agency will continue to apply for the funds in future years.
“The search for additional funding is something we always pursue because we want this program to grow,” Motto responded.
Vogler said he recognizes the need for the program and commented it goes hand in hand with the extra narcotics officer positions created in the district attorney’s office last year to continue the battle against drugs problems in the community.
“Those (six) people in that program could very well be in jail if it was not for this program,” Motto pointed out. “I’m sincere when I tell you, this program changes people’s lives and it does work.”
(Email: dwachter@ncnewsonline.com)
TOP STORIES
Probation officer post to augment drug court
- TOP STORIES
-
-
Lawrence County Primary 2013
The New Castle News is covering the 2013 primary in Lawrence County with stories, photo galleries and video clips from local polling places.
-
Primary 2013: Six candidates seeking City Council nominations
Six Democratic candidates are seeking their party’s nominations for three seats in Tuesday’s primary. Voters will nominate two candidates on both Republican and Democratic ballots for four-year terms and one candidate for a two-year term.
-
Photo Gallery, Video: Procession, flag-waving crowds salute fallen policeman
Throngs of people crowded along East Washington Street Wednesday, paying final tribute to fallen officer William J. “Jerry” McCarthy IV. A motorcade of about 20 motorcycles and more than 200 police cruisers, all with flashing red and blue lights, created a sensation as it rode slowly toward Shenango Township.
-
New Castle Schools: District answers two state audit findings
New Castle school district administration answered two of the findings in a state auditor general’s preliminary report. The audit, which has not yet been finalized, covered the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. The preliminary report also contains an observation, which the district answered.
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Ceremony remembers fallen officers
Last year there were 12. This year, there are 13. The law enforcement community paused Thursday to remember Lawrence County’s fallen officers in a ceremony outside the New Castle police station.
-
Pulaski officer honored for heroic efforts
A Pulaski Township patrolman was named April 2013’s Officer of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
-
County considering jail privatization
Lawrence County government officials are mulling the idea of privatizing the jail. The matter came to light when a company toured the 268-bed facility after answering a request for proposals that was sent out by the commissioners.
-
New PennDOT website to outline road, bridge work
Pennsylvania senators hit the highway Tuesday at the end of their May session without confronting a bill that would pour billions into road and bridge repairs and construction.
-
Hilcorp might drill in Neshannock Township
Marcellus Shale drilling could be moving into Neshannock Township. A Hilcorp Energy Co. representative said during the Neshannock supervisors meeting Tuesday that the company has leased Millennium Park property off King’s Chapel Road for possible drilling.
- More TOP STORIES Headlines
-
