Nelson County Drug Court Effort Receives Supreme Court Approval

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia

From Nelson Commonwealth Attorney’s Office:

On May 18, 2022, members of the Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
were present in Richmond when the Virginia Supreme Court’s Drug Treatment Court Advisory
Committee approved the application for Nelson County Drug Court. The Committee voted
unanimously to approve the Nelson County Drug Court. The Court will accept non-violent
criminal defendants into the intensive 18-month treatment program based in Lovingston.
Defendants who complete the program, which requires extended sobriety, employment, and
participation in treatment, may have their charges reduced or dismissed.

Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Daniel Rutherford, noted “Seizures of
methamphetamine, heroine and fentanyl have increased over 600% since 2010. As my office’s
workload has increased, we have seen how addiction to these drugs destroys families, sends
people to jail, and rips apart lives. Now, with the approval of the Nelson County Drug Court, my
office can help those defendants who are ready to end their addiction. This will free up more
resources to vigorously prosecute those who traffic these drugs into our community.”

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Nelson County Board of
Supervisors for its’ continued support of the Nelson County Drug Court and would also like to
recognize Susan Morrow and Neal Goodloe of OAR Jefferson Area Community Corrections,
Francee Laverty at Region Ten Community Services Board, Judge Doucette, and local attorney
Kyle Hughes for their hard work during the application process.