Tuscarawas juvenile court judge improves program

Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court Judge Adam W. Wilgus has improved an existing court program that assists juvenile drug and alcohol offenders in recognition of National Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Month. 

Juveniles who come to the court with drug and alcohol concerns currently are referred to the court’s licensed drug and alcohol counselor for substance abuse assessments plus individual and/or weekly 12- step group counseling.  

Wilgus has added personal meetings with the participants and will meets monthly with the counselor and the juveniles in the program to discuss the juveniles’ progress, their struggles with abstinence, issues at home, school or after school activities and to acknowledge their accomplishments. 

Wilgus seeks to emphasize treatment rather than punishment. He will order a juvenile be placed on house arrest rather than being held in a juvenile detention facility, when appropriate, which will allow them better access to treatment. 

The court expects that it will take between four and five months for the participants to complete the program. Successful completion includes the passing of random drug tests in addition to the sessions with the counselor and judge. 

For information: co.tuscarawas.oh.us/courts/about-juvenile-court.