It started as a routine court proceeding. A young man was accused of possessing marijuana and a judge needed to know if he had a drug problem.

The court ordered Cody Nichols of Sheldon, facing several misdemeanor charges, to obtain a substance abuse disorder evaluation. The order specified that Employee and Family Resources , a social services nonprofit with a longstanding presence at the Polk County Jail, would interview Nichols and produce a report for the court at Nichols' expense.

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