To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Adult Drug Court

Initiator

Judge Frank Jordan

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit an application and, if approved accept funding \n \n for an undetermined amount from the Judicial Council of Georgia.

Approval

Pending

Background

Drug Court is a five-phase intervention program for adults who have pled guilty

to one or more nonviolent felony offenses and who are having difficulty staying

clean and sober. It is a collaborative effort between the Superior Court of the

Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, the Columbus Consolidated Government, District

Attorney?s Office, Public Defender?s Office, Probation Office, Drug Court

staff, law enforcement agencies and treatment providers. By working together,

we seek to provide a variety of programs and consistent supervision geared

toward supporting and helping offenders maintain a drug-free life. Drug Court

involves frequent court appearances, random drug testing as well as group

counseling. The Court awards incentives for compliant behavior and imposes

sanctions for negative behavior. Participants who do not comply with the rules

may be placed in short-term custody, moved back to the previous phase of Drug

Court or a variety of other sanctions. They may also be terminated from Drug

Court. The targeted participant is a first or second offender charged with drug

possession (not sale or trafficking charges) with no violent felony history and

no gang related history, who signs a contract to become and remain drug free.

To successfully complete Drug Court, offenders are required to be involved in

several activities which will benefit and sustain recovery. As a participant in

the Muscogee County Drug Court Program, participants will be required to:

engage in substance abuse counseling; attend frequent court sessions; meet with

drug court staff; submit to random drug screening; attend support meetings;

obtain employment or attend school; obtain a GED; pay court fines and

restitution; submit to searches of automobiles and residences and pay treatment

costs.

Analysis

Since beginning this program on September 29, 2007 we have had (48) forty eight

participants in this program. We have terminated a total of seven

participants.

Financial Considerations

No matching funds are required.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible for funding for this program.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the submission of this grant proposal to continue the Muscogee County

Adult Drug Court.

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