Officials seek funding for midcoast drug court

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Court officials are seeking $750,000 to $1 million to establish a new drug court in Maine's midcoast region.

Newly-elected District Attorney Natasha Irving tells The Bangor Daily News the court would work as a "co-occurring" disorders court, serving people with drug and alcohol addictions, mental illnesses and veterans.

Court participants would work with their attorney, the judge and mental health and treatment workers instead of going to jail.

Irving says positive reinforcement and not jail is "how we're going to get the change we want."

A spokeswoman for Gov. Janet Mills says she supports drug courts, but feels more should be done for community-based services.