Johnson County honored the first two graduates of its new Adult Drug Treatment Court during a ceremony on Thursday, May 15, at the Johnson County Courthouse.

The treatment court launched in 2023 to serve individuals with substance use disorder as a treatment-based alternative to incarceration. A new Behavioral Health Court also launched that year to serve individuals with mental health needs.

Graduates George Radee and Brandon Stevens completed the six-level program in 18 months. “Given the demands of this program, that is a record pace,” said Judge Kelly Ryan of the Kansas 10th Judicial Court. Ryan presides over the treatment court and meets with participants at least once every two weeks. Additional court staff also meet with participants to monitor and chart their progress on therapy, drug testing and job performance.

“We are in their face all the time,” Ryan said. “It’s at least 18 months, and that’s when they are gliding through. We hear that drug courts, treatment courts, are just for people to avoid prison. But that’s not true. These people volunteer (to participate). They want the help.”

The Adult Drug Treatment Court is the result of a partnership between District Court, Community Corrections, the District Attorney’s Office, A Connecting Pointe rehabilitation center, private defense counsel, the Johnson County Mental Health Center, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office.

The Adult Drug Treatment Court and the Behavioral Health Court follow the success of the county’s Veterans Treatment Court, which serves veterans with substance use and mental health issues. Veterans Treatment Court launched in 2016 as the county’s first treatment court, as well as the first treatment court for veterans in the state of Kansas.