Clark County Drug Court
Participant Handbook
Clark County Therapeutic Specialty Courts -
Superior Court Drug Court
1200 Franklin Street
PO Box 5000
Vancouver, WA 98666-5000
Phone (360) 397-2304
The Drug Court program is a court supervised program to reduce substance abuse, criminal behavior and facilitate rehabilitation through intense court intervention and treatment.TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome Letter / Page 4
Drug Court Goals / Program History / Page 5
Drug Court Overview / Page 6
Phase 1 / Page 7
Enhancement Tracks, Phases 2, 3, 4 & All About Treatment / Page 8
Support Group Documentation / Page 9
Support Group Verification / Page 10
Drug/Alcohol Testing / Page 11
Physician/Prescriber Form / Page 12
Meet The Drug Court Team / Page 13-14
General Drug Court Rules / Page 14-15
Confidentiality & Rewards / Page 15
Closing / Page 16
CLARK COUNTY
DRUG COURT
Welcome to your Drug Court Participant Handbook. The handbook that you have is meant as a resource to you to help guide you through your time in Drug Court and beyond.
I always give Drug Court participants two pieces of advice: BE HONEST and SHOW UP! First, please communicate with us. We are here to help you and have the same goal as you – rehabilitation to get back on track. We cannot help you reach that goal if we do not know what is going on with you in an open and honest way. Second, please show up for everything. There are going to be tough times and we know that no one is perfect. If you do not show up for court, treatment or other obligations, this hurts your recovery. We can’t help you if you aren’t here.
We as a team spend a lot of time working with you to try to work towards your goals. YOU though, are the key person on the team. It is up to you to do the leg work each day, staying clean and sober and making all of your obligations in order to succeed. Please feel free to contact any one of us on the Drug Court team.
Thank you and welcome to the program. Your journey starts now!
Shauna McCloskey
Superior Court Drug Court Coordinator
DRUG COURT GOALS:¨ Decrease substance abuse and criminal behavior
¨ Promote long-term sobriety and accountability
¨ Increase stability
¨ Prevent relapse
PROGRAM HISTORYThe Clark County Superior Court Drug Court continues to be the foundation of all Therapeutic Specialty Court programs. Established in May 1999 by Judge J. Rulli, Drug Court continues to make the community a safer place and provide a cost-effective solution to expensive alternatives for substance-abusing offenders. In January 1999 and until 2006, Judge D. Woolard took over the Drug Court program and has provided tremendous leadership for the program both locally and statewide as the past president of the Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals.
From April, 2011 to May 2014 Judge J. Nichols presided over Drug Court and was instrumental in expanding the program to include a separate track to treat higher risk offenders sentenced through DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative). DOSA Drug Court enables offenders facing a higher prison sentence to complete the start of their incarcerated time in a state-funded inpatient treatment bed for upwards of six months. Upon completion of that level of care, the DOSA participants are monitored through the DOSA Drug Court track with the partnership of the Dept. of Corrections.
The Honorable Gregory Gonzales took helm presiding over the Drug Court in May 2014 and continues to provide opportunities for participants to rehabilitate their lives by improving community safety and by saving a tremendous amount of money by keeping program participants out of jail/prison and crime free!
DRUG COURT OVERVIEWThe Clark County Drug Court serves individuals who have substance abuse problems and an open felony criminal court case. Participants must meet eligibility criteria and screening requirements
There are several components to participating in Drug Court:
¨ Attend court regularly
¨ Attend individual/group drug/alcohol treatment as designated on your treatment plan. Treatment may consist of drug and alcohol counseling, mental health counseling, medication management, anger management/domestic violence and other court-mandated services.
¨ Attend other therapeutic programs as determined by Drug Court (i.e. parenting classes, life skills, alumni/mentor groups, etc.)
¨ Submit to multiple, random, supervised drug tests
¨ Agree to curfew and home checks
¨ Attend self-help community support meetings (i.e. AA, NA, CMA, SMART, mentoring, church)
¨ Attend other programs: EHC, Work Crew, Community Service
¨ Pay fees, fines, restitution and/or other financial obligations to the Court and community
If a person is eligible for Drug Court and wishes to participate they must plead guilty to the charges, sign a Drug Court contract, Waiver of Speedy Sentencing and Releases of Information.
Drug Court is made up of a team of people that work together to help participants in the program. The program literally helps save lives… but it can be really tough!
The drug court team has a weekly staffing meeting to share information, monitor progress, and make recommendations on participants. Staffings occur before each court date. The team meets to review each case and discuss the participant’s progress, including drug/alcohol testing results, attendance, participation and cooperation in the treatment program, and compliance with drug court rules and requirements.
The program is divided into three main phases. Participants progress and “phase up” after a certain number of days when they stay clean (this includes not missing drug tests, not leaving enough of a sample to be tested or having dilute samples) and meet specific requirements. When participants fail to meet program requirements or are using drugs/alcohol they face sanctions (consequences) and can be asked to come to court more frequently. However, when program participants meet program requirements, they are eligible to receive rewards.
PHASE 1Phase 1 starts when a participant chooses to opt-in to Drug Court. The focus during Phase 1 is stopping the use of drugs and alcohol and engaging in treatment at the level determined by a treatment assessment. This may include in-patient treatment and/or intensive out-patient treatment.
If you are sick you still need to show up for treatment. The counselor can excuse you. If you miss treatment because you are in the hospital at the time of your treatment session you must get a physician’s note. Remember, the time in and time out must be noted by medical staff.
Missing or not completing program requirements can result in sanctions. Sanctions are consequences given out by the Court. Sanctions slow the time it takes to move to Phase 2.
Requirements(mandated minimums) / Phase 1: Stabilization & Investment
Treatment / In-patient and/or Intensive Out-patient treatment as indicated on your personalized treatment plan
(screened for MAT and MH/Trauma/DV services)
Support Meetings
(Turn in to treatment prior to court) / 1-3 per week
Drug Testing / Randomly per assigned color
Sobriety* / 60 days since opting in
Court Appearances / Every Thursday or Friday (DOSA only)
Web Report
(http://www.clark.wa.gov/courts/superior/
drugcourtform.html) / Complete Report weekly
between Tuesday 8:00 AM – Wednesday 2:00PM
Curfew / 9:00 PM **
Programming / - Complete Life Skills classes
- Stable Housing
- Encourage mentor contact
- Attend a Reach Too orientation & 1 event
- Weekly visits with probation or case manager if applicable
Fees / Minimum $50 paid by end of phase
Transitions / Any sanctions may postpone phase
transition 30 days
* No phase transitions while taking prescription medications (excluding antibiotics or prescribed psychotropic medications, Medication Assisted Treatment through a monitored program)
** Curfew extensions may be granted by team for employment purposes. Fill out special needs request for consideration
Enhancement tracks: PHASES: 1.5, 2.5, 3.5We strongly encourage working with Mentors!
¨ To get into 1.5: Must have face to face mentor contact, be in the program for 30 days, have 30 days clean time, and are in compliance for 2 weeks: you are eligible to go into Phase 1.5. It has the same requirements as Phase 1, but once you are in Phase 1.5, you appear to court every other week, have a 9:30 p.m. curfew and get called earlier on the docket.
¨ To get into 2.5: Must have continued mentor contact including at least 1 face to face contact and you are submitting clean UA’s. Then you get to have a 10:30 p.m. curfew and get called up earlier on the docket
¨ To get into 3.5: Must have continued mentor contact including at least 2 face to face contacts and you are submitting clean UA’s. You would then have a 11:30 p.m. curfew and called up earlier on the docket.
PHASES 2, 3 and 4See attached Program Flowchart for more information
ALL ABOUT TREATMENT
All participants in Drug Court participate in substance abuse and/or co-occurring treatment. Before entry into Drug Court, participants undergo an assessment to determine the level of care required. Participants may need:
Outpatient Treatment
¨ Substance abuse treatment that does not require staying overnight at an inpatient facility. Outpatient treatment may be in the form of group(s) or individual appointments. Participants attend outpatient anywhere from 1 to 4 days per week depending on level of need. Services can be gender-specific and culturally appropriate when identified as a need.
Inpatient Treatment
¨ Substance abuse treatment that requires participants to reside at the inpatient facility. The facility and length of time for inpatient varies by individual situation and need.
¨ Detoxification / Sobering unit - short term stays
Recovery Support Services
¨ Participants will be screened for additional recovery support services and other treatment needs. This may include but not limited to: mental health, medication-assisted treatment, trauma-informed care, housing, education/vocational goals, driver’s license status, peer-to-peer mentoring, etc.)
Treatment is the most important aspect of Drug Court. It is important participants are ON TIME, HONEST and bring REQUIRED MATERIALS such as workbooks for group.
If you are sick you still need to show up for treatment. The counselor can excuse you. If you miss treatment because you are in the hospital at the time of your treatment session you must get a physician’s note. Remember, the time in and time out must be noted by medical staff.
SUPPORT GROUP DOCUMENTATIONParticipants in Drug Court are required to attend community self-help support meetings as directed in all phases.
The purpose of attending meetings is to help participants connect to the recovery community and promote lifelong sobriety. Support meetings are any type of recovery-based group such as AA, NA, CMA, CVAB, NAMI or church groups related to maintaining sobriety etc. There are a wide variety of support meetings throughout Clark County.
All Therapeutic Specialty Court participants are required to attend recovery support meetings. Participants are required to fill out support group verification forms. The forms must be filled out completely in order to get credit for attending the meeting. Support group verification forms are to be turned in to Lifeline by noon on Wednesdays if you are in Drug Court. (example of the form on next page).
Clark County Drug Court
Support Group Verification
SUPPORT GROUP VERIFICATIONo DC o SAC xDOSA o FTC
Participants Name:
Name of Group:
Time: Date:
a Signature of Representative:
Anchor Group? Yes: No:
Topic:
Did you speak? Yes: No:
What did you hear of interest or learn?
______
______/ SUPPORT GROUP VERIFICATION
o DC o SAC xDOSA o FTC
Participants Name:
Name of Group:
Time: Date:
a Signature of Representative:
Anchor Group? Yes: No:
Topic:
Did you speak? Yes: No:
What did you hear of interest or learn?
______
______
SUPPORT GROUP VERIFICATION
o DC o SAC xDOSA o FTC
Participants Name:
Name of Group:
Time: Date:
a Signature of Representative:
Anchor Group? Yes: No:
Topic:
Did you speak? Yes: No:
What did you hear of interest or learn?
______
______/ SUPPORT GROUP VERIFICATION
o DC o SAC xDOSA o FTC
Participants Name:
Name of Group:
Time: Date:
a Signature of Representative:
Anchor Group? Yes: No:
Topic:
Did you speak? Yes: No:
What did you hear of interest or learn?
______
______
DRUG/ALCOHOL TESTING
Drug and alcohol testing is an essential aspect of the Drug Court program. Participants agree to submit to random drug and alcohol testing anytime during the week and/or weekend. Tests are frequent, random, and visually supervised. Drug Court tests for a variety of drugs including synthetic substances like K2/Spice, Kratom, Bath Salts as well as for suboxone, methadone. Generally, urinalysis (UAs) tests are used but other testing may be requested.
Drug Court uses drug test results to determine if a participant is using drugs, alcohol and/or documented prescription medications while in the program. Participants with positive tests for any substances that are not prescribed will receive a court response. Any unexcused, diluted or failure to leave an adequate sample drug tests will start the “court clean time” over and will result in a court response. Program clean time helps drive your progression through the phase structure.
If a participant disagrees with the results of a positive drug test, it may be contested and sent to the lab for further testing at the participants cost (a nominal fee applies) and the court will delay any action until results are given. It is the participant’s responsibility to set up and pay for the retest within one week. This is arranged through Lifeline. If the test results confirms a positive test, a stiffer court response may be in order for delaying the process. If the test result confirms a negative (false positive), the nominal fee will be reimbursed to the participant.
Participants in Drug Court may NOT use the following items:
¨ Alcohol-based products; mouthwash, some energy drinks, specialty drinks and cough medicine
¨ Poppy seeds in any form (no poppy seed cake, bread, muffins, etc)
¨ Any prescription medication unless prescribed by the participant’s doctor or medical professional; all prescription medications must be reported by the proper Physician’s letter
¨ Any over the counter medications, such as Nyquil or Sudafed that contain alcohol or ephedrine ingredients. If taken, participants must inform probation and/or treatment counselor within 24 hours of taking the medication