Program Requirements
Adult Drug Court is voluntary. Benefits of successful completion may include reduction in the term of probation, dismissal of criminal charges, and reduced or suspended incarceration.
General Program Requirements Include:
- • Adherence to scheduled sessions, meetings, and appointments made by the program’s providers
- • AA/NA Support Groups
- • Compliance with Drug and Alcohol testing
- • Attendance at regular court appearances
Referral and Eligibility
Participants may be identified at the time of arrest, arraignment or probation revocation hearing and are referred by judges, defense counsel, the District Attorney’s Office, and probation officers. Passing the screening process does not guarantee admission into the program. Acceptance is made on a case-by-case basis.
General Eligibility Includes:
- • Evidence of a serious and persistent addiction to drugs and or alcohol
- • Participant has been convicted and sentenced (post-adjudication) and is eligible for probation (misdemeanor or felony). Individuals charged with murder or sex offenses are not eligible.
- • A drug or alcohol issue was likely a factor in the offense.
- • Participant’s addiction has seriously impacted quality of life and without added conditions of the court is likely to become non-compliant.
- • Willing and amenable to addiction treatment and the recommendations of the treatment provider.
- • Has the mental and cognitive capacity to handle the structure of Adult Drug Court.
- • Has a valid home address in St. Tammany or Washington Parish. If participant lives in Washington Parish, he/she must have reliable transportation to attend status hearings.
- • Willing to sign releases of information to all necessary treatment providers and collaborators.
- • Agree to refrain from alcohol and drug use (other than approved medications).
- • Submit to random drug testing.
Case Management
Participants are assigned a case manager once the participant has been assessed as eligible for the program. The participant is oriented to the Adult Drug Court program and an individualized case plan is developed. The case manager will help the participant connect with appropriate treatment resources and communicate regularly with the participant’s provider. Linkages to other services and resources are provided as needed such as transportation, self-help meetings, peer support services, and housing. Monitoring by the case manager includes overseeing compliance with required activities such as drug screens and attendance at treatment appointments. The case manager is responsible for collecting and reporting information to the court at weekly staffings held prior to the status hearings.
Adult Drug Court Team
- • District Judge
- • Administrator/Program Coordinator
- • Case Managers
- • State Probation And Parole
- • 22nd JDC Misdemeanor Probation
- • Treatment Providers
- • District Forensic Coordinator
- • District Attorney’s Office
- • Public Defender’s Office
- • Community Liaisons/Ancillary Services
- • Clerk Of Court