SC 14th Ciruict Multidisciplinary Court Expansion and Enhancement(The 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office seeks to continue, enhance and expand its treatment courts program in the 5-county circuit.)

The 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes felony offenses in a five-county area of South Carolina's Lowcountry. It also operates a Multidisciplinary Court, providing a post-adjudicatory alternative to prison for qualified offenders with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Project activities would increase program capacity and expand the continuum of care by supporting in-house mental health and substance use counselors. The Solicitor's Office has operated Multidisciplinary Court in Beaufort County since 2009, with graduation rates approaching 90% and recidivism rates of 35% or lower. However, availability of mental health treatment is not sufficient to assist all drug court participants with co-occurring disorders. The situation is yet more dire in the other counties, which are rural and economically disadvantaged and where the non-white population exceeds the state average. In fact, in two of those counties, Black/African-Americans constitute a population majority. Expected outcomes include increasing program capacity so that 160 additional participants are served over four years; provision of evidence-based services; recidivism reduction where the program is already in place; and regular program assessments.