CANYON CITY – Law enforcement, court and health officials are teaming up to take a new tack on crime – targeting the drug use that fosters many illegal activities.

The new Grant County Drug Court program will be the subject of a public meeting from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in the Circuit Courtroom at the County Courthouse in Canyon City. The public is invited to attend and meet the members of the Drug Court team.

Ryan Joslin, Grant County district attorney, said the Drug Court, which will begin in July, is a way to address the pervasive influence of illegal drugs.

“Despite the continuing best efforts of law enforcement, our judiciary, and concerned community members, Grant County continues to realize the negative effects of the behavior of drug-and alcohol-dependent individuals,” Joslin wrote in a letter inviting the community to attend this week’s meeting.

He said that in a majority of cases prosecuted by his office, alcohol or drugs are a contributing factor.

“Moreover, many of these individuals continue to reappear in the criminal justice system notwithstanding prosecution, probation and substance abuse treatment,” he said.

The county was awarded a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to operate the Drug Court.

The $61,525 grant is for the period from May of this year through June 2009.

The grant includes money for the Grant County Center for Human Development, the county’s mental health and substance abuse counseling agency, to hire a half-time drug and alcohol counselor to work with the program. It also would pay for urinalysis work, which is one of the ways the program ensures accountability.

Drug Court programs, which have been effective in other areas, use a team approach to try to address the addiction issues that may be steer a person into a life of crime and keep them there.

Joslin said the program is designed to provide increased monitoring, treatment and accountability of participants. The program will also require participants to improve their education or employment status, and to become more productive members of our community.

In Grant County, that work will be done by a team of officials that formed earlier this year.

In addition to Joslin, the team includes Circuit Judge William D. Cramer Jr.; Carol Page, trial court administrator; Kelly McGirr, drug court coordinator; Dean Hoodenpyl, Community Corrections; Russ Comer, Grant County Center for Human Development; Markku Sario, an attorney and public defender; and Rich Tirico, John Day Police chief.

The public is welcome to attend Thursday’s meeting. There will be a presentation explaining the drug court, and time for questions.