September 2024 newsletter (Volume 10, Issue 9)
September 2024 newsletter (Volume 10, Issue 9)
Please click on the title below to view each of the different stories in the newsletter.
Note from Sheriff Torgerson
Already the end of summer which signals the end of many things but also new beginnings. The first of which is, of course, back to school. It’s time for all drivers to watch for kids out and about more, coming and going to school and other activities. Of course, the buses on the roads, loading and unloading kids adds to the importance of being a safe driver and not distracted, slowing down, and staying sober. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office wishes for all students, teachers, and staff to have a great new school year!
The turning of the calendar to September also means the farmers will soon be more on the move as crops begin to be harvested over the next many weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. We want to be vigilant again while driving especially on the narrow rural paved and gravel roads. Here’s to a great harvest and safe travels as well.
Lastly, I need to personally thank all the event organizers over the summer months that kept us scrambling to meet all the needs and requests of our time. We enjoy the community interaction and support garnered from these events when we can educate and support all of you.
Thanks again for your support!
Olmsted County's Drug Court
Corporal Chris Spelhaug
The first Drug Court was established in Miami, Florida in 1989. Since then, Drug Courts have been established or are being planned in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and in nearly 90 Tribal locations. Currently, there are more than 2,500 drug court programs throughout the United States.
D&O Corrections, Olmsted County Attorney’s Office, Rochester Police, Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Judicial system combined to establish Olmsted County’s Drug Court (OCDC) in 2015. Since then, 117 clients have been admitted, and 67 have successfully graduated.
The program itself is a 15-month voluntary program that carries a maximum of 25 participants. Enhanced supervision and multiple weekly random drug tests are standard for all clients. However, a well-rounded team of professionals all assist in case management, building individually structured chemical dependency treatment programs and mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy when needed. Clients come to court every other Thursday to go in front of either Judge Wallace or Judge Hayne to give a run down on progress, share good experiences, and, at times, receive sanctions. The Drug Court team works with clients to learn a new way of thinking so they may be successful in transitioning to a normal life. Assistance in getting housing, financial assistance, employment, and a driver’s license are a few of the physical needs provided. By the completion of the program, clients will have an established support group, sponsors, mentors, and new coping skills that they have not had in the past.
To be considered for OCDC, an applicant must be 18 years of age, a resident of Olmsted County, and either on probation for a felony-level offense for which they’ve exhausted traditional supervision resources or facing a presumptive executed prison sentence on a pending felony-level file.
Facts per Minnesota Judicial Branch, Minnesota Statewide Adult Drug Court Evaluation:
Drug Court participants continue to have a significantly lower rate of recidivism: Comparing offenders who spent similar amounts of time outside of incarceration (“at-risk time”) during the evaluation period, the new study shows Drug Court participants consistently had significantly lower recidivism rates. For example, among those offenders who reached four years of “at-risk time” during the evaluation, 28 percent of Drug Court participants had received a new conviction, compared to 41 percent of non-Drug Court participants.
Drug Court participants also spent fewer days incarcerated: On average, drug court participants spent 74 fewer days incarcerated in jail or prison than similar offenders during the four-year evaluation period. As a result of this reduced incarceration, each drug court participant saved $4,288.
Night to Unite was held on Tuesday, August 6
Thanks to everyone who participated in this annual celebration; we enjoyed stopping by parties throughout the County and hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did! Special thanks to our sponsor, Custom Alarm!
Monthly Snapshot: Drug Court Success
Corporal Chris Spelhaug
Olmsted County has a 57% success rate with its Drug Court Program.
Dates of Interest
September 2
Oronoco Township Meeting
Pleasant Grove Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
September 3
Elmira Township Meeting
High Forest Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
September 4
Salem Township Meeting
September 5
Dover City Council Meeting
Quincy Township Meeting
September 9
Cascade Township Meeting
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting
September 10
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
September 12
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
September 16
Eyota Township Meeting
Kalmar Township Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
September 17
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting
September 18
Haverhill Township Meeting
September 23
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Viola Township Meeting
September 24
Byron City Council Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
September 26
Eyota City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Fire Meeting
Olmsted County Township Association Meeting
September 30
Dover Township Meeting
Senior Administration
Sheriff
Kevin Torgerson
Chief Deputy - LEC
James Schueller
Captains
Jon Jacobson
Kelly Lee
Ryan Mangan
Tim Parkin
Chris Wallace
Executive Assistant
Laura Collins
Director - ADC
Samantha Reps
Captains
David Adams
Andy Danielson
Macey Tesmer