Over 50 percent of the 113 inmates in Warrick County Jail are there for drug and alcohol offenses. Offenders have shown strong interest in participating in the new court program.

"(Drunken) driving and drug courts seem to be about the only things that are consistently working," said Superior Court Judge Keith Meier, who oversees the program. "It also provides rehabilitation and treatment for substance offenders while affording them a realistic opportunity to initiate a positive change."

The court is running ahead of schedule: in only six months, it hired three full-time and four part-time staff, sent full-time staff to national drug court training, and developed its program.

Federal grants will provide the court with $425,000 over 3 years, and offenders will pay their own costs to participate in the program, with indigent offenders paying in installments or receiving grants.