Rocket Dockets make substance abuse treatment programs accessible

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Substance abuse treatment programs can be hard for offenders and inmates to get access to.

However, one initiative allows them the opportunity to receive the help they need.

In turn, making our communities better.

Rocket docket is a program that permits a local commonwealth’s attorney or county attorney to expedite cases through the judicial system.

It also allows select defendants rapid access to substance abuse treatment, generating significant cost savings to local county jails.

This initiative has saved 82 million dollars in local jail costs over a 40 month period.

At the inception of the program, drug offenders would spend 115 days in jail.

As of November 30th, 2018 they spent 21 days in jail.

That’s a 94-day difference.

This gives them a chance to work through their abuse until their return to society.

Chris Cohron, a Commonwealth’s Attorney for Warren County, says the program aims to keep people out of the criminal justice system.

Nearly 10,800 defendants have been referred to a form of treatment, equating to 60 percent of defendants.

There are currently 35 Rocket Docket programs in Kentucky.

The Rocket Docket program began in July of 2016, helping Kentuckians ever since.