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Posted by: Tammy on 02/03/2006 06:37 PM
Updated by: Tammy on 03/04/2010 10:41 AM
Expires: 01/01/2011 12:00 AM
Felony Drug Court


Western Judicial Circuit Felony Drug Court

About the Western
Judicial Circuit Felony Drug Court

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Western
Judicial Circuit Felony Drug Court is to provide
an alternative means for addressing substance abuse offenses through a
judicially supervised regimen of treatment for chemically dependent offenders
with the goal of yielding sober, law-abiding citizenry, thereby reducing the
cost and negative effect on the community while resolving public safety issues.

Program Overview:

The Western Judicial Circuit Felony Drug Court Program
serves felony offenders and persons charged with probation violations in the
Superior Courts of Athens-Clarke and Oconee
Counties; and 2^nd
or subsequent DUI offenders in Oconee County Probate Court. The Felony Drug Court provides
a non-traditional and blended approach to working with criminal offenders who
are drug and/or alcohol addicted. It is a 5-phase program, with each phase
representing a different step towards recovery. In order to graduate,
participants must successfully complete each of the 5 phases and successfully
graduate. The program was designed to be completed in 17 to 24 months for Track
1 and a minimum of 12 months for Track 2 participants. Participants will be
assigned to a track based on clinical evaluation, legal/criminal background
history, and recommendations from the Drug
Court team.

 

The 5 phases correspond with the 5 stages in Carlo
DiClemente’s Stage of Change model
with the belief that individual participants begin in the Precontemplation
Stage and then accordingly move through the Contemplation, Preparation, Action,
and Maintenance Stages. Treatment, interventions, and program requirements in
each Drug Court
phase mimic the needs for each corresponding stage of change.

 

Participants will be expected to participate in the
following treatment-oriented activities (all program activities are in the
evenings and weekends so as not to conflict with work):

§        
Individual counseling sessions

§        
Educational and treatment support groups

§        
Weekly court appearances

§        
Monitoring and supervision

§        
Random drug testing

§        
Weekly AA/12-step meetings

 

When participants do well within the program, they receive
incentives such as certificates, gift cards and curfew extensions. When
participants have challenges within the program, they may receive therapeutic
interventions (increased treatment mandates) or sanctions such as community
service or jail time.

 

Who qualifies for the program?

Offenders who have the following characteristics:

§        
Non-violent criminal history

§        
U.S.
Citizenship

§        
17 years of age or older

§        
An attorney of record

 

Offenders who have one of the following types of cases
pending:

§        
Possession of a controlled substance

§        
Possession of a controlled substance with intent
to distribute;

§        
Sale
of controlled substance

§        
Attempt to possess by fraud

§        
Theft, property crimes and non-violent offenses

§        
Probation revocations

§        
2^nd or subsequent DUI (Oconee County
only)

 

Factors that exclude individuals from the Felony Drug Court
Program:

§        
Present charge and/or prior conviction of sex
offense(s)

§        
Present charge and/or prior conviction of
violent felony offense(s)

§        
Severe mental health symptoms or developmental
issues

§        
Manufacturing, production, trafficking or
cultivation of drugs

 

Meeting the basic qualifications does not automatically
place an individual in Drug Court.
To be accepted into the Felony Drug Court Program, participants must be
approved both legally by the District Attorney’s Office and clinically by the
Drug Court Coordinator. To start this process, individuals should talk to their
public defender or defense attorney of record about drug court as a viable
option.

 

Why choose Drug Court?

Drug Courts create legal outcomes that are better than going
through the traditional judicial system. Upon completion of Drug Court, some participants may receive
a reduced or probated sentence while others may receive a full dismissal of all
criminal charges. In most cases, jail days are less for Drug Court participants than for other
individuals going through the traditional judicial system unless otherwise
indicated by legal statute. These dispositions will be determined by the
District Attorney’s Office on a case by case basis and will be agreed upon
prior to entry into the program.

 

Drug Courts work because they provide ongoing treatment with
judicial supervision for the duration needed to be effective. Participants
receive the level of intensive outpatient treatment required to develop
recovery tools for their life. They are held accountable for their actions
through judicial supervision and regular, random drug and alcohol testing. Graduates
from the program learn to maintain their sobriety and go on to become positive
members of the community, business owners, and successful employees. In the
five years since the start of the Western Judicial Circuit’s Felony Drug Court in December of 2004, 38
participants have graduated and only 2 have faced new legal charges. The vast
majority of our graduates have succeeded because of the experiences they had
while in the Felony Drug Court Program.

 

For more information:

For those interested in more information about the program,
call the drug court program office at (706)
208-7078. For research on the effectiveness of drug courts, visit the
following website: http://www.ndci.org/ndci-home/

Contact
Information:
Coordinator: Stephanne Thornton, LCSW, CACII
Email: stephannethornton@co.clarke.ga.us
Phone: (706) 208-7078

Think you or someone you
know might have a

substance abuse problem?

 

Take a Self Test:

In the last 12 months…

1. Has anyone objected to your drinking/drug use?
2. Has your drinking or drug use damaged a relationship
   with someone you cared about?
3. Have you gotten into arguments while drinking/using
   drugs?
4. Do you need larger amounts of drugs/alcohol to feel
   the effects?
5. Have you frequently used alcohol/drugs to relieve
   emotional discomfort?
6. Have you occasionally had more to drink than you
   intended?
7. Have you set rules to limit your drinking or drug use
   that you failed to follow?
8. Have you given up or reduced social or recreational
   activities because of your drinking/drug use?
9. Have you neglected any responsibilities when
   drinking/using drugs?
10. Have you missed work or school because of your
    drinking/drug use?

 

If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions,
you may have a problem. See the criteria below for a more specific description
of substance abuse and substance dependence. This information is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a
licensed professional (see the website below for a list of resources). 

 

Substance Abuse
Criteria:

Must meet at least one
of following categories in the last 12 months (can apply to alcohol or drug use
or both)

1. Failure
   to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home.
2. Use in
   situations where it is physically hazardous
3. Legal
   problems as a result of use
4. Continued
   use, despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems
   caused or made worse by use.

 

Substance Dependence
Criteria:

Must meet at least 3
of the following categories in the last 12 months (can apply to alcohol or drug
use or both)

1. Tolerance,
   as defined by either a need for markedly increased amounts or a markedly
   decrease effect with continued use of same amount.
2. Withdrawal,
   as indicated by either a characteristic withdrawal syndrome or the use of
   the substance to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
3. Taking
   the substance in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than
   intended
4. Persistent
   desire or unsuccessful efforts to cute down or control substance use.
5. Spending
   a great deal of time obtaining, using or recovering from effects of use.
6. Giving
   up or reducing participation in important social, occupational or
   recreational activities.
7. Continued
   use despite knowledge of having a physical or psychological problem that
   is caused by use or is likely made worse by continued use.

 

For more information about substance abuse and treatment
options in Athens,
visit the following website: http://www.recoveryathens.org/