Bedford County Treatment Court Saves Lives and Tax Dollars

Bedford County is proving you can help people beat addiction and save money at the same time.

The Pennsylvania county just approved a full-time Treatment Court Coordinator position to help people struggling with substance use disorders get into treatment instead of jail. Judge Travis Livengood proposed the role to streamline how multiple agencies work together to support people fighting addiction.

The coordinator will interview applicants, connect them with treatment programs, and track their progress. Right now, several different offices handle pieces of the process, making it hard to keep everyone on the same page.

Here's where it gets even better: the position pays for itself. The county spends about $100 per day to keep someone in jail, but treatment court participants stay in their communities, close to their support systems, while getting the help they need.

Between 60% and 80% of the coordinator's salary comes from the Opioid Settlement Trust, not county taxes. The position actually costs less than the part-time role the county previously funded on its own.

The Ripple Effect

When people get treatment instead of jail time, the benefits multiply across the entire community. Parents stay with their kids instead of behind bars. People build new lives free from addiction while remaining connected to family and friends who can support their recovery.

The county also saves money in its children and youth services department. When parents can stay home and get well, fewer kids need emergency placement or foster care.

Commissioner Mike Stiles called it a win for everyone involved. "We're going to get some services that we otherwise didn't have," he said after the board unanimously approved creating the position.

Judge Livengood summed up the impact simply: "It keeps kids with their parents. It keeps people off drugs. It keeps them out of jail."

Applications for the Treatment Court Coordinator position are now open, and the county expects the new hire to start making a difference soon.