13th Judicial District

Abstract

The 13th Judicial District, Yellowstone County, Montana, is requesting Adult Treatment Court Discretionary Grant funds (Category 2: Enhancement) to enhance its DUI Court, STEER, and VTC, CAMO. Both are post-adjudication courts that request Priority 1(A) consideration, as is detailed on Page 12 of the proposal narrative. Yellowstone County contains 169,000 residents approximately 17% of Montana’s total population responsible for roughly 26% criminal filings in Montana. Yellowstone County is near two of Montana’s eight Native American reservations and sits along Interstate 90, a high intensity drug trafficking area.

Proposed enhancements focus on impaired drivers. In both courts, funds are requested in proportion to program population size, with $750,000 requested for the DWI/DUI Court, STEER, and $250,000 requested for the VTC, CAMO ($1,000,000 total).

The grant will enable STEER and CAMO (“the Courts”) to increase capacity, long-term recovery, accountability and monitoring, culturally responsive substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, case management, strengthen the team, and sustainability.

The target population for the enhancement is high-risk/high-need adults charged with a felony DUI, including veterans. Over the 4 years of grant funding, the Courts plan to serve 140 unduplicated clients with DUI felony charges with a census of 100 clients annually. Program participation time ranges from 15-24 months. All types of MAT are available to clients. The 13th District is located at 19 N. 25th St., Billings, MT 59101. The Courts have active grants through SAMHSA and the BJA VTC Discretionary Grant. Grants are nearing the end of their funding cycles. Montana’s Department of Transportation provides funding for STEER through its Highway Safety Plan. No additional federal funds support the Courts.   

The Courts are committed to the NADCP’s Best Practice Standards. Requested funds will contribute to additional evidence-based and culturally specific treatment services, case management, and recovery support (Standard V), as is detailed on Page 13 of the Proposal Narrative, as well as complementary treatment for mental health (Standard VI), Page 14. Proposed funds will meet Standard VIII by adding two staff members, providing team trainings, and funding increased community supervision and additional public defender time, Page 3. Proposed program evaluations will bolster efficacy (Standard X), Page 3. Drug and alcohol testing will ensure accountability and monitoring (Standard VII), Page 6. Proposed enhancements will promote racial equity in access and outcomes through improved cultural responsiveness interwoven throughout the Courts, along with an equity analysis.