The Nelson County Drug Court

The Nelson County Drug Court (“NCDC”) seeks a Category 1: Planning and Implementation Grant with priority consideration as a Rural Jurisdiction, as demonstrated on p. 1. The NCDC Planning Committee completed the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Adult Drug Court Foundational Training in March 2022. The Committee then sought approval from the Virginia Supreme Court’s Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee’s to establish a post-plea, pre-adjudication Adult Drug Court in the Nelson County Circuit Court. The NCDC was approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia on May 18, 2022.The Nelson County Drug Court seeks $699,940.16 in total funding over the 48 months of the grant. The Nelson County Drug Court will seek to serve approximately 75 participants over the 48 months of the grant. The minimum length of the program is 14 months, and the Drug Court Planning Committee anticipates that most participants will complete the program in around 18 months, but has not identified a maximum length for the program and will address participants who do not timely complete the program on an individual basis. The target population for the NCDC is non-violent, substance-using, felony defendants who are high-risk and high-need as measured by the RANT or other appropriate diagnostic tool. MAT is available in nearby jurisdictions and candidates for whom MAT is appropriate will be referred to those resources. Region Ten Community Services Board will provide treatment services for participants, to include Moral Reconnation Therapy, Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program, or Residential Treatment. Region Ten utilizes evidenced-based treatment curricula and manuals including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. Treatment group progression is IOP and Journaling, Relapse Prevention and gender-specific Seeking Safety, Healthy Relationships, Coping Skills, Aftercare, and Social Support.  The NADCP’s Best Practice Standards are foundational to the NCDC, as demonstrated on Narrative P. 15. Nelson County has received LOLE Block grants in the past but they would not support the NCDC.  Nelson County does not currently have an active drug court grant of any kind.