Marion County is now the first county in Iowa to use an intensive treatment court system for compulsive public intoxication offenders. The program includes treatment, counseling, a life skills class, and other services aimed at changing patterns of habitual offenders and keeping them sober. County Attorney Ed Bull says the idea came about after a discussion with Judge Steven Guiter on how to handle the high number of habitual public intoxication offenders in the county. Bull says that they were taking them to prison after their third offense, but the Department of Corrections was releasing them after four weeks of a two-year sentence.

The program is voluntary. A group of 10-15 people have initially been enrolled for the program, which began earlier this month. County Attorney Ed Bull says no taxpayer money is being used for the program. Counseling services, law services, and the class are all being provided free-of-charge.