Rockdale Accountability Court Enhancement Project

Rockdale County Accountability Court (RCAC) applying under Category 3 for financial and technical assistance will address those individuals in the criminal justice system with substance abuse issues.

The RCAC is a post-adjudication court that includes: Adult Drug Court, Resource Court (Mental Health), and DUI Court (incorporates the Guiding Principles of DWI Court) which are considered co-occurring courts addressing both a substance abuse and mental illness diagnosis.

Those that will benefit from the proposed project include current and future participants in the criminal justice system with substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders with a total number of 200 participants to receive services over the life of the project period. The proposed project will enhance the number of treatment hours, expand drug testing capabilities, provide enhanced trauma and opioid services and expand availability of housing solutions to a service area with a population of 90312. 

The minimum length of participation is 18 months, the average length is 25 months, and the maximum length is 36 months.

RCAC will adhere to BJA's request that participants promptly enter the program following eligibility determination, who are not violent offenders and who do not require an initial period of incarceration unless the period of incarceration is mandated by statute for the offense in question. Also, RCAC will demonstrate that it has fully incorporated NADCP's adopted standards with the most current evidence-based principles and practices.

The NADCP adult drug court best practice standards that will be addressed are complementary treatment and social services such as mental health treatment, frequent testing, trauma-informed services overdose prevention and reversal, and housing assistance.

The project will provide treatment and services to address opioid, stimulant, and other substance abuse reduction; ensure participants are identified and receive appropriate treatment and services that include MAT services, increased random drug testing with different panels, Narcan training, Relapse prevention education, and Wraparound services such as individual/trauma counseling, aftercare programs such as WRAP and Alumni/Peer support. The RCAC actively provides access to MAT services to all participants. It is fortunate to have a Coordinator certified in MAT and through another court initiative; funds and medical care are available to the participants.

The jurisdiction is currently not leveraging any other federal funding.

Total project period cost: $662,500.

Grant request: $496,875.00                           Match: $165,625

Rockdale County past grants from OJP:

2013-DC-BX-0040 FY 13 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant: $345,000

2014-DC-BX-0042 FY 14 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant: $199,998