Though delayed, a drug court is still on its way to Grays Harbor County.

The county commissioners on Oct. 30 approved grant funding and a local agreement for management of a therapeutic court coordinator position.

Through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the county will receive $399,785 to fund a local therapeutic court (commonly referred to as a drug court).

“Drug court is one of a number of courts based off a therapeutic court model, and that therapeutic court model basically identifies persons who have high needs and that there are programs in existence that have demonstrated on a scientifically validated basis that those programs are effective in reducing the risk to the community with these persons,” Grays Harbor County Superior Court Judge Stephen Brown said earlier this year. “Those programs are evaluated on a regular basis to make sure they are getting the outcomes that are expected.”

Drug court will use a system of sanctions and incentives with drug offenders. That system will be clearly defined, and offenders will need to agree to participate in drug court.

Initially, the county had expected the drug court would be up and running by October. Now, the county is hoping the court is ready and operating in January, or early next year.

“We were waiting on the grant. They’ve gone to training to get themselves up to speed. We’re also working on space,” Commissioner Vickie Raines said of the delay. “It’s new for our area, so it’s just taken a little bit longer to get it in a forward motion, but everything’s a go, so we’re pretty excited for that.”

A third Superior Court courtroom was supposed to also house the drug court, however the county came up short during the state budget process. The county’s third courtroom project had been fourth in line to receive funding for construction through the state’s historic preservation fund, but following budget concerns, only the projects ranked in the top 3 received funding. The county is required to build a third courtroom as part of a settlement to a lawsuit filed by the Grays Harbor County Superior Court judges.

The agreement also approved during the Oct. 30 meeting is a memorandum of understanding between the Grays Harbor County Superior Court and the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to jointly manage a therapeutic court coordinator.

Other business

The commissioners approved two resolutions for public records.

The first resolution establishes a fee schedule for copies of public records. Those fees match what is set by state law.

A second resolution adopted a policy and procedures for public records requests.

“Policy and procedures are more or less relating to what our staff is to follow as far as if they get a request,” Raines said.