Probation Department Policy/Procedure Manual

1.34 Adult Drug Court Referral Process

Location	Specialty Courts
Section	Adult Drug Court
Subject	1.34 Adult Drug Court Referral Process
Purpose	The referral process and attached forms necessary to complete the referral and explanation of program criteria.
Effective Date	1/22/2020
Previous Effective Date

 

1. All potential clients are referred to ADC from one of the following:
   1. Court (must be post plea); potential clients will be initially screened in Court by a County Health Agency Drug and Alcohol Pre-Screener.
   2. Probation Department - the supervising Probation Officer is to complete an assessment, generate the “Drug Court screening” form and open the enrollment tab.  Email the ADC Probation Officer once completed.  
   3. Drug and Alcohol Services (DAS) - potential clients who are referred to Drug and Alcohol Services for a screening and meet with an intake coordinator can be internally referred.
2. All participants who are accepted into the program must be willing to sign a release of information for details pertaining to their mental health, substance abuse, legal status and history to be shared with the ADC.
3. Once referred, the client is scheduled for a Pre-Screening with a deputy probation officer and a County Drug and Alcohol Therapist. The client is contacted by either the deputy probation officer or the County Drug and Alcohol Therapist and notified of his/her appointment.
4. Pre-screening slots are available on Wednesday’s if participants are in custody and Thursdays in the afternoon if out of custody.
5. Outcomes following Pre-Screen
   1. Defendant meets preliminary inclusion criteria - accepted into program; intake completed at main clinic, defendant advised of group counseling day as well as individual days, court date set for the first available Friday.  Terms/conditions are reviewed with the defendant and ADC terms/conditions are reviewed and made part of the defendant’s grant of probation.
   2. Defendant does not meet criteria - notes placed into Monitor describing why client does not meet criteria.  Assigned D.P.O. (General Supervision) notified.  ADC assigned deputy probation officer will close the enrollment tab with notes.
6. Once accepted into the ADC program, the client will begin the Engagement Phase of the program.  This phase will usually last approximately 4 weeks.  During this period the client will be assessed by the team if the program is fit for the client and if the client is fit for the program.  The client will remain on general supervision and supervised by his/her probation officer during that time.  Once the client moves on to Phase I of the program, the ADC deputy probation officer will take over the case and supervise the client.  When directly sentenced by the court into the program, the case will be assigned to the ADC deputy probation officer for immediate supervision.
7. The treatment team including the Judge, DDA and public defender meet every Wednesday at 12:00 pm to discuss potential clients, screenings/assessments, referrals, and clients scheduled for the week’s court. Court occurs every Friday at 09:00am in Department 3.  Prior to court, the treatment team will meet with the Judge in chambers at 8:30am to discuss any changes from initial treatment review.
8. Monitor notes are entered by ADC deputy probation officer following court and as needed following weekly contacts with clients.

ADC Team:

• Judge
• Deputy Probation Officer
• Deputy District Attorney
• Public Defender
• County Health Agency Drug and Alcohol Specialist