BURNETT COUNTY -- Burnett County’s Treatment Court will remain operational for now, following strong community support and collaboration after concerns were raised at a March 27, 2025, hearing about its possible closure.
This latest update from the Hon. Judge Melissia Mogen comes after a previous press release from County Board Chair Donald Taylor, who clarified the County’s stance on funding and staffing, and emphasized the County’s ongoing commitment to Treatment and Diversion programs.
In the press release below, Judge Mogen highlights efforts to preserve the court, improve its structure, and work toward a stronger, more sustainable program for the future.
PRESS RELEASE
After the March 27th treatment court hearing, our community has banded strongly together supporting Burnett County’s Treatment Court. At the March 27th hearing, concerns were raised, and it was revealed that the treatment court would likely terminate on April 25, 2025. This news was significant and impacted many, sparking a variety of emotions among those in the treatment court, the community, the court system, and the county as a whole.
The news also ignited discussions in the Burnett County community and the entire Wisconsin treatment court community, which prompted community members to collaborate to find ways to keep the treatment court operational and ways to show support for our coordinator, who has played a vital role in the treatment court since its inception in 2008.
The announcement made at the March 27th treatment court hearing caused pain, grief, and discomfort for many people in the community, the county, and the court. Sometimes, it takes pain to heal, restore, and rebuild.
With the assistance and support from the Sawyer County Recovery Court, in particular, Kati Ann Dussl, Programs Coordinator for JusticePoint, it was discovered that Burnett County may be the only treatment court out of 100 treatment courts in Wisconsin to have a part-time coordinator/case manager with similar participant numbers. It was apparent after research and examination of Wisconsin’s treatment courts that Burnett County must focus efforts on building a successful, evidence-based treatment court model, including an appropriate staffing/participant ratio.
Through this revelation, and with the support of the community, stakeholders, and our county’s decision makers, everyone has come together with a united goal: to keep our treatment court operational until the county can rebuild and transform Burnett County’s Treatment Court into a more effective program that can help and assist more individuals. This, in turn, will benefit even more people in our community.
We have caring and sensible community leaders dedicated to meeting the needs of the people. Stakeholders and key players are collaborating to create a plan that works for everyone; a plan to develop a more functional and successful treatment court while being fiscally responsible. Whether funding comes from county funds, grants, or other sources, the focus is on our collective goal. We are all moving forward together, with the same objective: to build a better, stronger, and well-functioning treatment court.
While this transformation may require significant time and effort, with many people collaborating and communicating, the primary goal remains to serve the public. We strive to maintain a vital program, focusing on enhancing and improving the program to better serve both the participants and the community.
I am pleased to say that in the meantime, the Burnett County Treatment Court will continue to operate status quo until further discussions are held and decisions can be made on strengthening and building our program. Everyone is dedicated to this issue and has the same goal and objectives. Good things come with communication, collaboration,and a united front.
It is encouraging to see our community come together, strengthen each other, and discover and discuss the benefits of treatment courts.
Steadfastly,
-- Melissia R. Mogen, Burnett County Circuit Court Judge
Last Update: Apr 18, 2025 9:20 am CDT
