GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It’s an alternative to incarceration for individuals who have been convicted of a crime related to heroin or opiate use.
Brown County heroin court started 3 years ago with its first participant in March of 2015.
Since then, 43 people have taken part in the program with 11 graduates to date.
Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh says heroin in not only a huge problem in Wisconsin but in Brown County.
The mission of the drug court is to help individuals recover from addiction of opiates while reducing overcrowding at area prisons and jails.
The treatment court consists of five phases and typically takes 18-20 months to complete.
“Initially, in the first phase, we meet with them every single week in court. They have to come in and see me. They also meet with our staff throughout the week. Our staff includes probation agents and a case manager. Every week on Friday’s the entire heroin court meets to talk about how the individuals have done that week,” explained Walsh.
After 30 days in the program, court participants meet with the judge every other week.
The program allows people to continue working and living productive lives while seeking the treatment they need. Green Bay Police Captain John Laux is a member of the heroin court team but that wasn’t always the case.
“There was a time in my career, I was over in the drug task force and I hunted these people…These were the people I wanted to put in jail and wanted to put away for a long time.”
Laux says it was a difficult transition and he found it hard to get excited for the drug addicts.
But that changed over time. He now sees it as a substitute for jail time.
“I really bought into the program and I really think it’s a great opportunity for this community. A great opportunity for not only law enforcement but for probation and parole, for the jail system, prison system,” said Laux.
***A Changed Life
Friday, July 28, 2017 was a big day for Russell LaRock. That was the day all his hard work and efforts paid off as he graduated Brown County heroin court.
It took him 15 months to complete the program and create a new life that he’s proud of.
He says there’s no going back to his old ways.
“I got my license back, I started a family, I now have a 5 1/2 month old daughter, I am engaged, I got my own place, bought a new vehicle,” said LaRock.
LaRock’s future is an open book with so much promise. None of it would have been possible without participating in heroin court.
Life wasn’t always smooth for LaRock.
“Back in March of 2016, I was sentenced for a crime where I was going to go to prison 3 years and then I was going to spend 5 years on probation. I would have had to a total of 8 years,” explained LaRock. “It was either go to prison or take the program.”
So, he took the program and he made it to the other side.
“Without the help and support of everyone in this program and my family and friends, none of this would have happened,” LaRock said.
As for the future, he continues to work full-time and looks forward waking up every morning and being with his daughter.
“I look forward to paying bills just like a normal citizen.”
Which is much more than most people can say.
President Trump recently called the opioid epidemic a “national emergency” and ordered action to battle against the epidemic.
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