Drug courts handle offenders with substance use disorders in nonviolent felony or misdemeanor drug cases. Separating drug crimes from other offenses enables judges, state attorneys, and public defenders to resolve the cases more efficiently and fairly. Probation officers, parole officers, and judges in a drug court refer offenders in active cases to Lake Area Recovery Center for addiction recovery services. By completing drug court treatment, participants can have their prison sentences reduced or expunged.
The first drug court was established in Miami-Dade County, Florida in 1989. It set the precedent for therapeutic jurisprudence, which is a philosophy based on the principle that addiction is a disease that can be treated. This method supports addiction recovery rather than punishing offenders for their substance use disorder.
The goals of a drug court program are to:
We achieve these goals by addressing the root causes of addiction-related criminal behavior and prioritizing recovery over punishment. Crime-producing needs are targeted, such as antisocial attitudes, antisocial peer associations, substance abuse and addiction, lack of problem-solving skills, lack of empathy, and lack of self-control. We focus on the needs of each client and on individuals who are at the highest risk for reoffending.
Currently, LARC is the addiction services treatment provider for:
Drug court programs combine frequent and randomized drug tests with evidence-based treatment methods. Drug courts usually involve three phases of treatment:
Drug court participants are often offenders who have been charged with a substance use-related offense and/or other non-violent offenses committed while experiencing a substance use disorder. In order to be eligible for a drug court program, an individual must be sentenced to at least 180 days in order to ensure program completion. Drug court participants can range from juvenile first-time offenders to adults with a history of substance use-related offenses and drug charges. Treatment classes are specific to offenders housed at the Ashtabula County Jail.
Yes. Participants are randomly urine screened at least twice a week. Frequent drug tests are required in a drug court program, especially during the initial stages of addiction recovery.
Treatment progress is monitored during the drug court, typically between 14 months and 2 years. Drug court participants receive a plan for treatment as determined in their initial assessments by LARC and probation, which are modified based on progress or lack thereof. LARC staff members meet weekly prior to drug court to review client progress and determine incentives or sanctions as necessary and appropriate. Each offender has a reentry plan for continuing care and case management services upon release.
Sanctions and incentives are two of the most important elements of a drug court program. Drug court sanctions are negative consequences that a drug court participant will experience for failure to adhere to the addiction recovery program. Drug court incentives, on the other hand, offer positive reinforcement for progress in their addiction recovery.
Sanctions can include:
Incentives can include:
Studies have shown that approximately 50% of all drug court participants successfully complete the program. However, several factors can impact the success of drug courts. Some of these factors include the length of time the individual spends in the program, whether the treatment is inpatient or outpatient, the length and severity of their addiction, and the individual’s willingness and desire to become drug-free. Overall, though, graduates of drug court programs have shown lower rates of substance use and reoffending.
Contact Lake Area Recovery Center for more information on our addiction recovery treatment services.