SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. –Spokane County District Court has been selected to receive two separate Washington State Grants totaling $402,621.00. The grants were awarded to District Court by The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) and the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
The WTSC Grant totaling $150,000 is expressly intended to assist covering the cost of testing to ensure defendant’s compliance with abstinence from alcohol and other non-prescribed substances while on probation. District Court Probation Manager Shannon Koutecky and District Court Judge Jeffrey Smith drafted the successful Grant application.
Ms. Koutecky stated, “For many defendant’s, the cost of testing can be a difficult financial hurdle to overcome. We are hopeful that these funds will help lessen that burden.”
The $252,621.00 Grant from AOC, is part of the $4.5 million dollars allocated by the Washington State Legislature for Therapeutic Courts located in Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. In addition to the Spokane Regional Mental Health Court, Veteran’s Enhanced Therapeutic Court, and the Intensive Supervised Therapeutic Court (DUI court), the District Court is exploring expanding the services offered through the District Court’s Domestic Violence Court with the goal of establishing a Domestic Violence Therapeutic Court.
District Court Judge, Jeffrey Smith, who drafted the AOC Grant application and currently presides over the Mental Health and DUI Therapeutic Courts, stated, “Therapeutic Courts are considered problem solving courts. These courts provide assistance to defendants struggling to overcome addictions, obtain treatment, and find solutions for basic needs, such as housing and transportation. Addressing these factors can contribute to a defendant’s ability to stay in compliance with their Court orders and reduce recidivism. We are grateful to receive these funds as they will assist us in making our therapeutic courts even more effective.”