Drug Court

November 26, 2012

2 hours

Drug court is a program designed to facilitate substance abuse recovery through treatment, court appearances and reinforcement of probation conditions. People that have been placed in the drug court program are under intensive probation supervision and are required to constantly appear in court so they can monitor the clients' rehabilitation process in their treatment. The same Judge monitors the client throughout the program, and show a caring ongoing concern about their recovery outcome. The Department Probation Officers administers can hold random urinary test, which test if a person has used any type of substances. In the case of a probation violation meetings would be boosted to more times a week. Probation Officers provide all possible support with optimal recovery incentives. 

There are very specific  charges that make people eligible like having possession of Marijuana for personal use, prescription fraud, forged prescription or obtain drugs by false prescription, second degree burglary, petty theft with prior or forgery. The charges have to be convicted as a felony but cannot be charged in the same case with any other offense except being drunk in public, reckless driving, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic needle, driving with a suspended license, or driving without a license.

During court clients are call up and their Probation Officer reviews the clients behavior to make sure that they're taking things seriously. Some receive their next court day and other get sentenced. If they're behaving well they are congratulated by the judge and receive an award such as a gift card for Starbucks, Jamba Juice or McDonalds. The judge interacts with them a lot and really shows that he care about their recovery. It is vital for a recovering addict to be recognized for his/her efforts to recover; it motivated them to continue with their treatment because someone is recognizing their hard work and understand its not an easy process.