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DWI Courts A Serious Solution To a Serious Threat

DWI Courts A Serious Solution To a Serious Threat. Why Can’t People Just Change? For the Addict…. “Remaining Addicted Becomes Easier than Trying to Change” DeClemente, 2003. Athens DUI/Drug Court Suite 430 325 E. Washington Street Athens, GA 30606 706.613.3206. Judge Prosecutor

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DWI Courts A Serious Solution To a Serious Threat

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  1. DWI Courts A Serious Solution To a Serious Threat

  2. Why Can’t People Just Change?For the Addict….“Remaining Addicted Becomes Easier than Trying to Change”DeClemente, 2003

  3. Athens DUI/Drug CourtSuite 430 325 E. Washington StreetAthens, GA 30606706.613.3206

  4. Judge Prosecutor Court Coordinator Defense Attorney Treatment Coordinator Treatment Provider Probation Law enforcement All team members work in concert to assist the DUI/Drug Court participant move through the phases toward the goals of sobriety and productive community participation DUI/Drug Court Team

  5. Selling the Program • Judge- Understand the treatment model dynamics and genuinely want each participant to succeed in the program • Prosecuting Attorney-committed to program • Defense Bar- support the program • Public Defender’s office involved since implementation of program • Local governing officials • MADD • Community support

  6. Issues to Consider • Participant eligibility • Length of program • Level of treatment • Cooperation of all stakeholders • Community resources available • Community “buy in” to concept • High risk target population • Transportation • Home visits/surveillance vital component

  7. The REPEAT Drunk Driver

  8. Qualifying Offenses for DUI/Drug Court • 2nd in 5 DUI • 3rd lifetime DUI • A combination of criminal acts and substance abuse that indicates a need for an enhanced level of supervision to redirect behavior---high BAC, accident, age of offender, drug seeking behavior

  9. Current Participants • All ages, races, social, and economic areas of the community represented. • Worst criminal history- 17 prior DUI convictions • Most have little or no history of treatment for substance abuse issues • Overall very committed to the program and their own individual success

  10. Athens DUI/Drug Court • 102 active participants • 15 females • 87males • 28% African American • 6% other • 66% Caucasian • 21 students • Average number of convictions--5.5

  11. Weekly group meetings Individual counseling sessions 12 step meetings Random and frequent drug and alcohol testing Weekly check-ins--weekday or weekend Bi-weekly status conferences with the Judge and the entire Drug Court team including all active participants Compliance with all other conditions of Court imposed sentence Minimum Requirements of the Program

  12. Incentives and Benefits Incentives and benefits for compliance with program conditions • Benefits include judicial praise, reduced confinement, community service credit, license reinstatement, transportation assistance, employment assistance, vocational placement, phase movement and an occasional gift.

  13. Consequences and Sanctions Consequences and sanctions for all violation of program rules may include: • Verbal reprimand, community service, revised treatment plan, electronic monitoring, confinement, and expulsion

  14. DUI/Drug Courts can make a difference through: • Participant accountability • Enhanced supervision • Extended treatment coupled with continuing judicial monitoring • Frequent and random alcohol/drug testing

  15. DUI/DRUG Court Treatment Components

  16. Crucial Program Components • Structured Program • Assessment • Random Drug Screen and Testing • Community Resources

  17. Constellation of Barriers andConfluence of Factors

  18. What if we JUST Refer Them to TREATMENT? Attrition • 50% to 67% don’t show for intake • 40% to 80% drop out in 3 months • 90% drop out in 12 months Outcomes 40% to 60% of clients abstinent at 1 year

  19. Research Findings • The length of time a patient spent in treatment was a reliable predictor of his or her post treatment performance. Beyond a ninety-day threshold, treatment outcomes improved in a direct relationship to the length of time spent in treatment, with one year generally found to be the minimum effective duration of treatment. • Coerced patients tended to stay longer. This was in light of the finding that most of the legally coerced addicts had more crime and gang involvement, more drug use, and worse employment records than their non-coerced counterparts.

  20. Assessment • NEEDS • Critical incident and participant information • Face to Face Clinical Interview based on ASAM Placement Criteria • Baseline Drug Screen Results • Collateral Information

  21. Phases of the Program • Phase I- Orientation and initial clinical assessment • Phase II- Extended assessment • Phase III- Active treatment and early recovery • Phase IV- Relapse prevention • Phase V- Continuum of care until graduation

  22. Treatment Components • Weekly Treatment group/individual sessions • Weekly Check-in and/or Status Conference with the Judge • Random Drug Screens and/or Breathalyzers • Weekly 12 step meeting with documented attendance

  23. Random Drug Screens • Type of tests: • Rapid tests, breathalyzers, and in-house lab • Administration of tests: • Treatment, Probation, and Drug Court personnel • Policies and procedures • Observed/unobserved (protocols) • Forms • Costs to administer • Results • Graded Sanctions and/or rewards

  24. Probation Supervision • Level of supervision intense • Home visits, work visits, • Daily and/or weekly reporting • SCRAM • Bar sweeps • Curfew checks • Increased opportunity for observed drug screening

  25. Bar Sweeps

  26. Benefits to Participant • Sobriety • Case management assistance in meeting probationary sentence requirements • License reinstatement upon completion of all program requirements • Becoming a productive member of community and out of the revolving door of substance abuse and the criminal justice system

  27. Benefits to the Community • Reduces DUI and drug related criminal offenses • Reduced costs (jail and court time) • Provides for increased accountability • Increases public safety • Improves the likelihood of offender rehabilitation • Returns the offender to the community as a productive member of society

  28. Financial aspect • Participant fee- $55.58/week: includes group & individual counseling, case management and drug testing, and probation supervision fee • Year jail cost avoidance savings to County-approximately $150,000.00 • Annual collections- $200,000.00 • 75% collection rate on participant fees • receive $16,000 per year from drug and alcohol surcharge • individual donations and program sponsorship • continue to seek additional funding from grant sources

  29. Cost Savings • Reduced jail costs (approximately $500,000.00 since November 2002) • Reduced costs of jury trials • Reduced costs of court reports, bailiffs, interpreters, court clerks, etc.

  30. In- House Drug Screening Lab • Rapid results • Specific tests, adulterants, dilution • Integrated with Data management system • Cost effective • High level of reliability and validity • Potential for revenue generation

  31. DUI/ Drug Court Legislation • Allows for the creation of a Drug Court division • Outlines requirements, operations and standards • Allows for the accepting of grants, donations, and other proceeds from outside sources- sponsorships

  32. Sustainability must be an integral part of any accountability courts development, implementation, and enhancement State funding Government benefits Counties Participant fees Sponsors Donations Partnerships Sustainability/Resources

  33. Judge must demonstrate a genuine concern for the participant’s success • Committed to program • Knowledgeable and accepting of drug court model • Get to know the participants

  34. Recidivism Rate • Since program inception, the recidivism rate for program participants is 3%

  35. Recidivism Rate • Since program inception, the recidivism rate for program graduates is 1.7%

  36. Approved MADD Resolution “MADD supports the use of post-adjudication DUI/DWI courts that employ the strategies of close supervision, frequent alcohol and other drug testing, and ongoing judicial interaction to integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with the justice system.  MADD recommends that DUI/DWI courts should not be used to avoid a record of conviction and/or license sanctions.” MADD National Board of Directors

  37. Athens DUI/Drug Court • Kent Lawrence -Judge 706-613-3200 kentlawrence@co.clarke.ga.us • C.R. Chisholm- Prosecutor 706-613-3215 crchisholm@co.clarke.ga.us • Adrienne Bowen-Coordinator 706.613.3206 adriennebowen@co.clarke.ga.us • Gary Bowen- Probation Officer 706.613.3206 garybowen@co.clarke.ga.us • Jennings Bishop-Txt Team Leader 706.227.2334 jbishop@fcsathens.com • Ben Makin- Defense Attorney 706.369.6440 benmakin@uga.edu

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