YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Drug court is a diversion program offered to offenders in an effort to help them off drugs and avoid prison time.

Circuit Judge Tami Bern helped start a drug court in the First Judicial Circuit in Yankton in 2013. She says they continue to see what the program can do.

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Bern says the numbers continue to grow.

It’s a 17-month supervised program with involvement of law enforcement, court services and mental health providers.

Bern says offenders have to apply to the program.

Bern says the cost of the program per person is about a third of what it costs to put that person in prison.