THURSTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

DRUG COURT PROGRAM

 

Drug Court Foundation Website

National Drug Court Institute

National Center for DWI Courts

National Association for Drug Court Professionals

 

Drug Court Program Mission

 

The Thurston County Drug Court Program is a court-supervised, comprehensive drug treatment program available to eligible non-violent drug and property felony offenders.

 

The mission is to break the "revolving door" cycle of drug and crime and to support participants to achieve total abstinence from drugs and alcohol, by promoting responsibility and accountability, and by teaching participants to become productive members in the community.

 

The Drug Court Program is an alternative to jail and/or prison and integrates chemical dependence treatment and community resources/ancillary services with the criminal justice system.

 

"Seeing and admitting the truth about ourselves, about our role in creating

our own problems, and about how we relate to others is vital to healing."

M. Scott Peck

 

Drug Court Goals and Benefits to the Community

  • Reduces the revolving door of crime and drugs by providing treatment to drug-addicted criminal offenders.

  • Requires strict accountability from program participants through frequent in-person court hearings and intensive monitoring.

  • Requires total abstinence from illicit and illegal drugs and alcohol.

  • Reduces emergency room, hospital and medical costs.

  • Reduces domestic violence.

  • Reduces felony and misdemeanor crimes.

  • Requires completion of education and/or vocational training.

  • Requires employment in a "W-2" tax-paying job.

  • Decreases use of public assistance.

  • Eases court, jail and prison overcrowding and costs.

Drug Court Goals and Benefits to the Participant

  • Stops criminal and other self-defeating behaviors.

  • Breaks the cycle of addiction.

  • Gains control of life patterns and decision.

  • Requires accountability and responsibility for choices and action.

  • Completes education (GED or H.S. Diploma).

  • Obtains a job/learns a skill.

  • Changes health and life skills.

  • Improves family and other relationships.

  • Changes thinking (beliefs) and behaviors.

  • Stays out of jail and/or prison.

  • CHANGE IS AN INSIDE JOB.

"An addiction is anything that has more power over you than you do.

Who or what runs your life?"

 

"If you keep doing the same things, you keep getting the same results."

 

Drug Court Process:  12-18 Month Program

Phase I - Orientation/Intake: 3-4 months

  • Intake/Assessment/Treatment Plan

  • Drug and Alcohol Education

  • Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)

  • Individual and Group Counseling

Phase II - Intensive Counseling: 5-8 months

  • Same Services as Phase I

  • Vocational/Education/Job Services

  • Referral to Ancillary Services

Phase III - Referral/Monitoring: 4-6 months

  • Relapse Prevention Sessions

  • Community Linkages and Ancillary Services

  • Personal Recovery Plan

Included in all Phases:

  • Random Drug/Breathalyzer Testing

  • Court Progress Reviews

  • Participation in 12-Step Programs

  • Court and/or Treatment Fee Payments

Graduation Requirements:

  • Completion of all Phase Requirements

  • 6 Months of Drug/Alcohol Abstinence

  • Full Payment of All Program Fees

  • 3 Months Full/Half Time Job/School

  • Obtain GED or H.S. Diploma

Eligibility Criteria and Admission

  • A person may be eligible for the program if he/she is arrested for a non-violent felony drug offense and/or certain property offenses such as forgery or theft.

  • The Deputy Prosecuting Attorney determines eligibility based upon current pending and prior charges.

  • An attorney from the Office of Assigned Counsel advises the offender of his/her option.

  • The judge asks if he/she wants to be considered for the Drug Court Program

  • If the offender chooses the Drug Court option, he/she is interviewed by the Drug Court Program Administrator, who provides the Judge with a suitability recommendation.

  • If accepted into the program, he/she signs a Contract to participate and receives a Program Handbook.

  • An appointment is scheduled for the participant to meet with the Treatment Provider for an Intake/Assessment and a baseline urinalysis test.

  • The participant is assigned to a primary counselor, is given a treatment schedule, and an Initial Treatment Plan is developed.

  • Participants return to court for review hearings before the Drug Court Judge every week.  A written report is provided each time, by the treatment provider, with comments and recommendations based upon program progress and compliance.

Thurston County Drug Court

Superior Court

Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg 2

2000 Lakeridge Dr SW

Olympia WA 98502

 

Carol Murphy, Presiding Drug Court Judge

 

Ellen Goodman, Drug Court Program Administrator

360.786.5217

email: goodmae@co.thurston.wa.us

 

Kim Robbins, Drug Court Program Assistant

360.357.2482 ext. 7752

email: robbink@co.thurston.wa.us