FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 31, 2025 – Kentucky Specialty Courts today announced that Jefferson County’s four Drug Court programs have attained certification based on their use of best practices to create optimal conditions for participant outcomes.
“The Jefferson County Drug Court judges as well as the Drug Court staff are proud and pleased to receive this certification,” said Jefferson Chief Circuit Judge Ann Bailey Smith, who serves as a Drug Court judge. “We strive each day to support our Drug Court participants so that they can lead productive, law-abiding, mentally and physically healthy lives.”
Drug Court judges volunteer their time. Other Jefferson Drug Court judges presiding over the certified programs are Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell and District Judges Josephine Layne Buckner and Stephanie Pearce Burke.
“Louisville families have been hit hard with the opioid epidemic and we continue to face hundreds of overdoses each year,” Judge Burke said. “We can’t arrest or incarcerate our way out of this public health crisis. Drug Court is one of the most successful strategies in our justice system to save lives, cut crime and save taxpayer dollars at the same time. Drug Court combines treatment and close court supervision with other services to help participants achieve accountability and recovery. It’s not an easy process or a quick fix, but if you or someone you know is in trouble, Drug Court works. Ask for it.”
The Jefferson programs were evaluated and certified in 2024 with the standards set out in Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2022-50. The certification is for three years.
“Drug Courts restore lives,” Judge O’Connell said. “This certification gives us further confidence, and Jefferson County complies to the national standards of excellence.”
Judge Buckner said, “I have been amazed to watch the participants work hard and make strides in recovery. The Jefferson County Drug Court Program offers the time and community support for participants who recognize the addiction and want to change their lives to do just that – change.”
Kentucky Specialty Courts certification efforts started in 2023 with the Supreme Court’s adoption of amended rules in the Supreme Court order. The Certification Advisory Committee that oversees the certification process is headed by the chief justice and made up of 11 members.
Other Kentucky Drug Court programs that have received certification serve the jurisdictions of Campbell, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Hardin, Johnson, McCracken and Pulaski counties.
Specialty Courts staff continue to work with Drug Courts across the commonwealth that are seeking certification. The goal is for all Drug Court programs to become certified and for Kentucky to be nationally recognized for its certification process.
About Kentucky Drug Court
Kentucky Drug Court operates as part of the Department of Specialty Courts at the Administrative Office of the Courts. Drug Court was Kentucky’s first Specialty Court program. Since being introduced as a pilot program in 1996, Drug Court has grown to all 120 counties.
Drug Court serves nonviolent offenders whose primary challenges stem from substance use disorder. This court-managed program offers treatment, intensive supervision, drug testing and case management at no cost to participants. Some counties provide programs for both felony- and misdemeanor-level offenses. Those who complete the program may have their charges dismissed through diversion or be granted conditional discharge through probation.
To learn more about Specialty Courts, visit https://kcoj.info/SpecialtyCourts.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts is the operations arm of the Judicial Branch (Kentucky Court of Justice) and is based in Frankfort. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks and executes the Judicial Branch budget.
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