Porter County Prosecutor’s Office Receives Grant in 2016

porter-county-substance-abuse-councilThe Porter County Prosecutor’s Office is a recipient of a $22,740 grant from the Porter County Substance Abuse Council for drug and alcohol testing. The Prosecutor’s Office is a member of the coalition.

The Prosecutor’s Office has received this grant to providing drug and alcohol testing and expertise testimony in an effort to reduce the number of impaired drivers and provide information that can be used to support the need for treatment. “Monies received will not only reduce driving while impaired cases, assist in other prosecutions where impairment may not be an element but a factor in the commission of a crime, it will also assist the Narcotics Unit in effective enforcement strategies,” said Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel.

The Porter County Prosecutor’s Office has been a member of the coalition for numerous years. The liaison to the coalition works on several committees including the Drunk Driving Task Force. The liaison’s work supports programming, data collection to meet state and federal requirements, and education in the schools to reduce underage drinking.

The Porter County Substance Abuse Council awards grants to its coalition members through a competitive application and review process. The Council has awarded almost $1.5 million in the last ten years to programs throughout the county that work to reduce substance abuse. Anyone interested in the Council or its grants may contact Beatrice Owen at 219-462-0946 for more information.