Rusk County Drug Court was established in 2014 as part of a collaboration with the Rusk County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council with the main focus on making a positive impact on the Justice System in Rusk County. The main focus on the Recovery Court is to make Rusk County a healthier place to live as a way to try to break the cycle of substance abuse and to reduce the crime rate within Rusk County. In 2024 Rusk County Drug Court became the Rusk County Recovery Court which allow The Rusk County Recovery Court to not only focus on Drug Abuse related cases, but OWI related as well.
The Rusk County Recovery Court guides its participants in making smart choices in their lives in order to become alcohol and drug free. In order to accomplish this, the Recovery Court Participants are required to adhere to strict random drug testing, participate in evidence-based programming, be involved in community service, attend AODA counseling, become employed and stay employed while in the recovery court and attend regular court appearances. With Honesty and Accountability being the forefront of the program, participants are given sanctions and incentives based on behavior or performance.
MISSON STATEMENT
The mission of the Rusk County Recovery Court is to reduce substance abuse and criminal behavior
in order to improve the lives of offenders, families and the community by providing intensive court supervision
and drug & alcohol treatment while holding offenders accountable for criminal behavior.
Rusk County Recovery Court Eligibility Criteria
Potential candidates meeting the following criteria will be considered for admission to Rusk County Recovery Court.
- Resident of Rusk County
- Suspected substance dependency
- Charged with and/or convicted of felony possession, use or sale of a controlled substance, a drug motivated crime and/or felony OWI
- Violent felony crimes will be considered on a case-by-case basis*
- The Recovery Court Participant must voluntarily agree to abide by the Recovery Court Rules
- Potential Recovery Court participants cannot serve as a current confidential informant for any law enforcement entity
*Violent Offender Restrictions
165.95 Alternative to incarceration; grant program
1. In this section, “violent offenders” means a person to whom one of the following applies:
2.The person has been charged with or convicted of an offense in a pending case, and, during the course of the offense, the person carried, possessed, or used a dangerous weapon, the person used force against another person, or a person died or suffered serious bodily harm.
3. The person has one or more prior convictions for a felony involving the use or attempted use of force against another person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm.
Recovery Court Coordinator
Angela Kostka
311 E Miner Ave, Suite L343
Ladysmith, WI 54848
715-532-2246
