Press Conference: Operation Rio Grande Phase II Update - September 13, 2017

New specialty drug court begins as part of phase two treatment under Operation Rio Grande.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Mayor Ben McAdams, District Attorney Sim Gill and Drug Court Peer Mentor Leighann Marsh announced the participation of the first group of clients arrested during Operation Rio Grande in the new specialty drug court, which began on Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
The new court will accommodate up to 125 participants. Initial participants were introduced to the court, assessed by medical and behavioral health staff and offered the option to participate by a team working in the jail.
60 jail inmates were identified as potential candidates by the jail staff. Of that group, 37 individuals volunteered to participate and 35 will attend the opening drug court session. All had access to one of the 37 new treatment beds that came online last week with behavioral health providers. Drug court program information is available on Salt Lake County’s Criminal Justice website, slco.org/crimin....
The specialty drug court is part of Operation Rio Grande’s Phase Two, which focuses on substance use disorder treatment as an alternative to individuals committing more crimes due to their illness and cycling in and out of the jail. Their selection for the drug court frees up those jail beds.
For more information on Operation Rio Grande, visit operationriogra....