Southeast Iowa Drug Court Program

The Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program is designed to assist states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments in developing and establishing drug courts for substance-abusing adult and juvenile offenders. Drug court programs funded by the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program are required by law to target nonviolent offenders. The program supports the following activities: adult drug court implementation, single jurisdiction drug court enhancement, statewide drug court enhancement, and planning efforts.

The Eighth Judicial District, Department of Correctional Services, will use the drug court implementation grant funds to provide services for post-conviction non-violent clients, eighteen years of age or older who are facing revocation to prison. DWI and sex offenders will be excluded. Other criteria include chemical dependency as the major factor related to criminal behavior and a demonstrated motivation to change. Priority will be given to poly-drug users or those whose drug of choice is cocaine or methamphetamine. The screening process will include staff interviews, substance abuse screening, the LSI-R, and Jesness Inventory. The program will accept a client with a dual diagnosis if the condition does not restrict or prevent meaningful participation. If a mental health diagnosis is assessed during screening, the client will be referred to various local resources.

Client demographics will be tracked and reviewed annually to determine if clients reflect the arrestee population. Corrective action will be initiated if client demographics deviate more than ten percent from that norm. The drug court treatment team will integrate treatment, supervision, and judicial processes in making decisions that are in the best interest of the community and the client. The term of the program is twelve to fifteen months; however, the program length will vary based on the client's needs and progress. The client will successfully discharge from drug court by participating for at least 12 months, completing all five treatment phases and adhering to an aftercare plan, maintaining safe housing, attending work and/or school, obeying probationary terms, demonstrating stability in family and peer relationships, and attending the graduation ceremony. Upon successful completion, the local parole and probation department will supervise the client for six more months to ensure a smooth transition to regular supervision
CA/NCF