ROCHELLE — The Ogle County Drug Court is a specialty Court that has compiled an impressive record of rehabilitating non-violent offenders and allowing them to return to the community as contributors.
The Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court is a part of the Specialty Courts system created to reduce the cost of substance-related crime, while holding offenders accountable for their behavior and preventing recidivism. How is that possible? By effectively addressing substance-related crime in Ogle County through education and intensive individualized treatment of offenders, enabling them to become productive, responsible citizens.
Drug Court requires a minimum 14-month commitment. If necessary, that time may be extended.  Participants must successfully complete each of New Horizon’s five phases to graduate.
On March 5, New Horizons Drug Court graduates Joe Sims and Maddy Martin spoke to eighth grade health classes in Stillman Valley. They told the students that from trying marijuana for the first time in middle school to becoming full-blown hardcore drug addicts by high school, they each went on to commit crimes to support their habit.
Simms and Martin not only faced jail and prison time, but probable death as a result of their addiction. Their message since successfully completing the New Horizons program is noteworthy: addiction can happen to anyone who tries a mind-altering substance.
Both graduates have worked very hard at their sobriety and now give back through these speaking engagements and mentoring others trying to get and stay clean and sober.
Tom, another drug court graduate, also endorses the New Horizons program. “Drug Court has helped me in many ways. It has made me a more responsible person. Allowed me to take a look at the person I was and truly change. This remains an ongoing process and yes, I still have flaws, but Drug Court has given me a chance to prove I can be a better person and one that does contribute to a functioning society.”
Bobbie Colbert served on the Drug Court Advisory committee when she was an Ogle County Board member. Colbert recommends an upcoming public education program about the Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 at Rochelle City Hall.

Speakers
Organized by the League of Women Voters of the Rochelle Area, speakers for the April 25 program at Rochelle City Hall will include:
Circuit Court Judge Ben Roe who oversees the Drug Court
Judge Clayton Linsey who oversees the DUI Court
Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow, Specialty Courts Prosecutor
Kathleen Isley, Specialty Courts Defense Attorney
Bridgette Beckman, Specialty Courts Probation Officer
Brooke Plachno, Adult Supervisor
Since its inception in 2009, Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court has celebrated 32 successful graduates. These graduates have an 84 percent success rate, defined as former offenders who do not commit a substance-related felony crime following graduation. Successful programs, like the the Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court, can turn offenders’ lives around so they are no longer viewed as criminals, but as productive community members.
In 2017, the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC) mandated all Specialty Courts within the State of Illinois be certified by the Illinois Supreme Court. All previously existing Specialty Courts were permitted to operate during the certification process. On Sept. 5, 2018, the Illinois Supreme Court certified Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court.