14th Judicial District Drug Court Grant

Category 3 ADC Enhancement

Funding requested is $500,000 over 48 months.

The 14JD-DC is a post-adjudication ADC designed for defendants with long-term substance abuse issues. Those eligible have been arrested for a non-violent felony crime and have been identified as having a substance abuse problem. Additional eligibility criteria include: 1) Referral by 14th Judicial District Circuit Court, 2) Residence in the 14th Judicial District (the counties of Baxter, Marion, Boone, or Newton), 3) An age of at least 18 years, 4) Evidence of recent or active drug/alcohol use, 5) Being charged with a drug- or alcohol-related or -motivated felony, and 6) Live or agree to live in drug-free environment (including mind- or mood-altering prescription drugs, 7) No other pending charges, 8) No sex-related crimes, 9) No history of violent felony crimes, 10) Not currently on parole/probation in other areas, 11) Dependable transportation to attend all Drug Court-related appointments and counseling sessions, and 12)

The program is a 4-phase program lasting at least 2 years-exact length depends on individual progress. Each phase consists of specified treatment objectives, therapeutic and rehabilitative activities, and specific requirements for advancement to the next phase of treatment. It requires intensive supervision by Probation, regular court appearances, engagement in individual and group SUD treatment, randomized drug testing, and attendance at support group meetings. Requirements are gradually lessened as a participant completes the various phases of the program. The phases are: Phase 1 Orientation and Intensive Treatment, Phase 2 Moral Reconation Therapy, Phase 3 Relapse Prevention and Daily Living Skills, Phase 4 Aftercare. A graduated system of rewards and sanctions are used in response to compliant and noncompliant behavior.

The 14JD-DC is applying for funding to enhance several critical elements of its drug court program under the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program. The immediate needs that this funding will address include: 1) Mental health services for 14JC-DC participants, 2) Consistent defense counsel, 3) Drug court team training, and 4) Evaluation and monitoring of participants, the program, and substance abuse issues in the jurisdiction. Further, the 14JD-DC jurisdiction is considered a rural priority area and a high-poverty area and contains 2 Qualified Opportunity Zones. The funding would support services to these high-priority and high-need areas.

The 14JD-DC has never received any funding from OJP for its ADC or any other programming. There are no other federal funds to leverage.