FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Transcription

1 DRUG COURT DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Program Point of Contact: Catharine Kilgore, Criminal Justice Administrator Dauphin County Courthouse, Room Market Street Harrisburg, PA Phone: (717) Fax: (717)

2 How does the Drug Court Process begin? The Drug Court Assessment Process is designed to take place on the front end of will utilize a fast track system with a goal of moving an eligible defendant through the system within thirty (30) days. Often, these types of defendants have a high risk and high need and do not have the financial resources to make bail. This program would give us means to deal with their need, control the risk of the community and move them out of the county prison system at a much faster rate. An offender wishing to participate in the Dauphin County Drug Court should, through his or her attorney, complete a Drug Court Referral Form, then submit it as detailed on the form. The form is available for online completion and printing in.pdf format, or may be downloaded for completion at a later time. It is important to understand that completing the form on-line is for convenience only, and does not submit the form; the referral form must be either mailed or faxed. What happens after I send in my referral form? The Drug Court Team Case Manager will schedule an evaluation with the referral to identify his/her treatment needs. The Drug Court Team caseworker will utilize accepted assessment tools in determining and making their clinical assessments. These tools are well known in the field and include the Bio-Psych-Social and Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria (PCPC) in addition to other clinical tools. The caseworker will provide the following to the Drug Court Team: Provide information for and completion of any indicated report to the Drug Court Team. Make appropriate offenders referrals to contracted providers Assist offenders with ancillary services to augment psychotherapy Input all data into the computer system Arrange any indicated aftercare services upon completion of residential treatment. Provide information for and completion of any indicated report to the Drug Court Team. The Drug Court Team meets once a week to review the cases of any new referrals. In addition to the offender s current case, the Drug Court Team reviews the criminal history of the offender, the evaluation results from the Drug Court Team Case Manager and hears any other information Drug Court Team members may have related to the case. After review of all information available, the Drug Court Team votes whether an applicant is accepted into the program. An applicant needs a majority vote in order to be accepted to the program. 2 of 5

3 Do I have to enter a plea before beginning the Drug Court program? Yes. The Dauphin County Drug Court is a post-disposition program. By entering a plea prior to Drug Court participation, you are accepting responsibility and accountability for your actions. In return, you will receive the treatment, monitoring and information you need to overcome any pattern of substance abuse or addiction that fueled your criminal behavior, rather than a punitive sentence of incarceration. How long will I be in Drug Court? Drug Court is, on average, an 18 month program from sentencing to completion. The Drug Court program is divided into three (3) phases, as detailed below. The Three Phases of the Drug Court: Phase I: 120 days to 150 days duration Stabilizing offender/detoxification (if necessary) Inpatient/Outpatient/Self-help programming An individual treatment plan is created for each offender Appropriate and stable housing component Performing community service hours on a daily basis Drug Testing/twice weekly through a variety of drug testing methods Supervision provided by the Intensive Drug & Alcohol Supervision Unit Offenders report in front of the court on a weekly basis for review of their case Electronic monitoring/gps if necessary Phase II: 120 days duration The offender removed from the electronic monitoring program and placed in the Intensive Drug and Alcohol Supervision Unit for supervision Continue outpatient counseling as recommended Meet with Court on a bi-weekly basis Urine screen (reduce level) Education/job training programming Job search/secure job Phase III: Remaining supervision, average 120 days duration Continue being supervised under Intensive Drug and Alcohol Supervision Unit Urine screening Meet with the Court on a monthly basis Continue treatment as recommended Sponsor a Phase I participant Graduation 3 of 5

4 What does my Probation Officer do for the Drug Court? The Probation Officer will supervise the offender on a daily basis while working with the Drug Court Team caseworker. The Probation officer will supervise the offender on an intensive supervision and will report weekly to the Drug Court Team as to the offender s supervision. What do I need to complete/accomplish in order to complete, or graduate, from Drug Court? Graduation Requirements Successful completion of the treatment program Fulfillment of goals as stated in the individual treatment plan Minimum of six months of drug and alcohol-free tests Obtain gainful, consistent employment or significantly involved in a vocational/academic training program Maintain a stable living arrangement and healthy interpersonal relationships Can I be terminated from the Drug Court program, and if so, what will happen to me? Removal from Program Each defendant will appear before the Drug Court Judge weekly during Phase I of the program. Potential sanctions including verbal warnings, increased treatment, increased drug testing, 48 hours in jail, roll-back in Phases, or termination from the program, revocation and re-sentencing. If an offender continues to show a lack of progress, fails to respond to sanctions, or continues to miss treatment and/or uses drugs or alcohol, he/she will be terminated from the drug program. At that time, the Judge will conduct a revocation hearing and, if preponderance is found, sentencing will be imposed. What is the Drug Court Team? Dauphin County s Drug Court Team is a multi-disciplinary unit, comprised of individuals from different County Offices and Agencies, each involved in some aspect of the Drug Court Program. Currently, there are 13 members of the Drug Court Team, comprised of persons from Dauphin County s: Court of Common Pleas Judiciary Office of the District Attorney Office of the Public Defender Office of Adult Probation Department of Drug and Alcohol Services Human Services Office Court Administration 4 of 5

5 What if I still have other questions? If you have a question that hasn t been answered, please contact Ms. Catharine Kilgore at your convenience; her contact information is provided on the cover page of this document. 5 of 5