FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Specialty Courts announced Tuesday that Pike County Drug Court has achieved certification for its use of best practices that create optimal conditions for participant success.
“The Pike Circuit Drug Court has been in operation for 20 years with a dedicated staff and team,” said Chief Regional Circuit Judge Eddy Coleman, who presides in Pike County and volunteers to be a Drug Court judge. “Being certified means that our process is consistent with the best practices, something we have always strived towards.”
Pike County Drug Court, which handles felony criminal offenses, was evaluated in 2025 and certified this year with the standards set out in Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2022-50. The certification is for three years.
Kentucky Specialty Courts certification efforts started in 2023 with the Supreme Court’s adoption of amended rules in the Supreme Court order. The Certification Advisory Committee that oversees the certification process is headed by the chief justice and made up of 11 members.
Kentucky Drug Courts that have achieved certification serve the jurisdictions of Ballard, Bourbon, Breathitt, Caldwell, Campbell, Carlisle, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Fulton, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Hopkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Livingston, Lyon, Madison, Martin, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Oldham, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Scott, Trigg, Trimble, Warren, Wolfe and Woodford counties.
Specialty Courts staff work with Drug Courts across the commonwealth that are seeking certification, providing improvement plans to programs that don’t meet benchmarks for certification so that they can attain it.
“The certification process is ultimately about continuous quality improvement and ensuring all Kentucky Drug Courts operate in line with evidence-based practices,” said Billy Ousley, manager of the Department of Specialty Courts at the Administrative Office of the Courts.
