JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a troubled southern Indiana drug court that’s facing a federal lawsuit over the mistreatment of participants including some left incarcerated longer than ordered, according to a letter made public Wednesday.
The high court, acting through the Indiana Judicial Center, ordered the immediate, indefinite suspension of the Clark County Drug Court Treatment Program in a letter dated Friday.
“During the suspension, the court may not accept any new participants,” said the letter signed by Jane Siegel, executive director of the Judicial Center. “Additionally, the Judicial Center continues to have an interest in the welfare of the current drug court participants and requests that you work with our office to develop a plan for the future supervision of … these individuals.”
The letter was addressed to Clark Circuit Judge Jerry Jacobi, who oversees the program that’s designed to help participants overcome substance abuse problems.
At least four participants in the drug court have spent months in jail despite being ordered to serve only days or weeks behind bars. Indiana State Police and a special prosecutor are investigating its operations, and Jacobi fired court director Susan Knoebel and suspended court bailiff Jeremy Snelling indefinitely without pay. Knoebel has said she has been made a scapegoat in the case.
The four people incarcerated longer than ordered are among eight plaintiffs alleging mistreatment by the program in a lawsuit filed against Clark County Tuesday in federal court in New Albany. They are seeking undisclosed financial compensation.
In one case, a woman who was sentenced to 48 hours in jail after she provided a diluted drug screen result ended up spending 154 days behind bars. In another case, a man was ordered to spend 30 days behind bars but served 215 days.
Drug Court attorney Larry Wilder said Jacobi ordered an investigation into the court’s operations when allegations of problems first surfaced last fall. Investigation findings were shared with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office and led to the state police investigation and the appointment of a special prosecutor, Wilder said.
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