Shelby County Adult Treatment Court Enhancement Project

The goal of Shelby County Alabama’s Adult Drug Court is to reduce recidivism and substance abuse among participants with substance abuse disorders (SUDs), thereby increasing the probability of long-term recovery and full reintegration into the community while reducing overdose deaths, thus saving lives. The BJA ATC Program, providing enhancements to our adult drug court, will assist in accomplishing this goal. Founded in 2002, Shelby County’s Adult Drug Court (ADC) has successfully graduated 2,106 participants, 690 from Track I and 1,416 from Track II. The court handles cases involving nonviolent, drug-abusing adult offenders through an extensive supervision and therapeutic treatment regimen aimed at rehabilitation rather than incarceration. The drug court serves high-, moderate-, and low-risk and high- and low-need participants. There are separate tracks for participants of different risk/need levels. The program provides frequent drug testing, intensive substance abuse treatment, and regular supervision to address the problems of drug use, abuse, and addiction. It is designed to help participants live drug-free and assume full responsibilities as contributing members of society. The program provides early intervention and immediate and concerted treatment to the participants who abuse substances and willingly commit to the ADC. The proposed project follows NADCP Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards and 10 Key Components, which are the most up-to-date evidence-based principles and practices. The project, if awarded, will provide: one additional full-time, onsite behavioral health treatment provider; no-cost drug testing to all participants; targeted equity and inclusion outreach to traditionally marginalized populations; and ongoing multidisciplinary training opportunities for the drug court team. Each enhancement will improve access and service delivery of evidence-based interventions, supervision, and substance abuse treatment services for the ADC docket participants. Those who historically opt out of ADC will have reduced barriers to participation. Participants will have additional incentives and opportunities to complete randomized drug testing and treatment, and Shelby County ADC will expand access to supervision and evidence-based treatment services to eligible defendants. Additionally, the enhancement project will establish a data collection and evaluation infrastructure to begin an ongoing evaluation process for Shelby County’s ADC to be used by the drug court team for program performance measurements and improvements.