Members of Kentucky’s judicial system warn that the next state budget could shut down specialty courts that focus on treatment instead of incarceration.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman also recently issued an opinion stating that the Ten Commandments can be displayed in public school classrooms and on Capitol grounds.
The Judicial Branch budget proposal, House Bill 504, would reduce funding by 4% in the first year of the biennium and 7% in the second, totaling a $33 million cut over two years.
These reductions could eliminate Drug Courts, Mental Health Courts, and Veterans Treatment Courts, which serve thousands of people dealing with substance use disorders or mental illness linked to criminal behavior.
Judge Sara Beth Gregory of Kentucky’s 57th Judicial Circuit, who oversees Drug Court in Russell and Wayne counties, said the programs offer a critical alternative to jail.
“Drug court gives us an alternative to incarceration that really gives these people a pathway to becoming part of the workforce, breaking the cycle of addiction, providing for their children, paying restitution, and becoming a positive influence in the community,” Gregory said.
Participants in specialty courts must complete treatment programs, undergo drug testing, and remain under court supervision. However, because these courts are not constitutionally required, officials say they are the most likely to be cut.
“The Judicial Branch already operates with a lean budget, with about 90% devoted to personnel and the basic costs required to keep courthouses open and functioning,” Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert said. “When cuts of this magnitude occur, there is simply no way to absorb them through small efficiencies or administrative changes.”
The proposed cuts would affect Drug Courts statewide, Mental Health Courts in 17 counties, and Veterans Treatment Courts in eight counties.
A conference committee is expected to finalize the state’s next two-year budget this week.
“Until we adjourn sine die, there’s possibility galore. There’s robust discussion around all three branch budgets,” said Senate President Pro Tem David Givens. “They play a vital role, but they’ve got to do it within the confines of what the taxpayers provide.”
According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Kentucky’s specialty courts have shown strong results. Since 2019, 5,110 participants have secured jobs, 555 have achieved educational goals, and 1,621 have improved their housing stability. Participants have also obtained 2,025 driver’s licenses, and the programs have supported the birth of 404 drug-free babies.
Specialty courts also cost significantly less than incarceration. The average annual cost to incarcerate one person in Kentucky is about $16,060, compared to roughly $6,507 per year for a specialty court participant.
Data also shows these programs reduce repeat offenses, with recidivism rates below the statewide average.
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