Missoula Youth Court will be receiving money from the county attorney’s office. According to Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, the funds being used are from fees and confiscations related to drug crimes.

"It came to our attention that Youth Court was in need of funds so that they could adequately test some of the participants of Youth Court and Drug Court," Pabst said. We have access to a drug forfeiture fund that is, in part, seized assets in combination with fines that are imposed on drug offenders and we thought, 'what better way to spend this money than to help kids that are struggling with this kind of addiction?'"

Other Missoula offices are pitching in to help youth court as well.

"We are donating $4,500," Pabst said. "That donation is being matched by the Missoula Police Department and the Missoula County Sheriff's Department."

In total, the Police, Sheriff’s Department and County Attorney’s office donated $13,500 dollars to Missoula Youth Court for drug testing. Pabst says this is intended to be a one-time donation, but that her office will continue to reevaluate youth Court to make sure needs are met.

 

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