Lane County Life Drug Court

For several decades, drug use has shaped the criminal justice system. Drug and drug-related offenses are the most common crimes in nearly every community. The mission of Lane County’s Drug Court is to stop the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and related criminal activity. Drug Court offers a compelling choice for individuals whose criminal justice involvement stems from alcohol and drug use: participation in treatment. In exchange for successful completion of the Drug Court Life Program, the Circuit Court will dismiss the original cases that brought the participant into the program or clients who complete drug court, as a condition of their probation, will not face probation sanctions.

In the Lane County Life Drug Court, the treatment experience begins in the courtroom and continues through the participant’s drug court involvement. Drug Court is a comprehensive therapeutic experience, only part of which takes place in a designated treatment setting. The treatment and criminal justice professionals are members of the therapeutic team.

The Focus program begins with an assessment to determine the individual’s criminogenic and substance use needs. The treatment program uses evidenced based cognitive behavioral curriculum and interventions to assist clients in successful progress toward individual treatment goals and completion of the program. The program includes incentives for achievements including attendance, abstinence and participation in community support meetings, and pro-social relationships and activities.

The Focus program partners with:

• Birth to Three for parenting support and education
• HIV Alliance to provide testing and information regarding high risk activities Housing with various sober living houses

In addition the program has two case managers who assist clients with barriers interfering with their progress and a mental health therapist who provides individual, group and family therapy.

The Drug Court Judge is the central figure in a team effort that focuses on sobriety and accountability as the primary goals. Because the drug court Judge takes on the role of trying to keep participants engaged in treatment, Emergence’s Focus Program can effectively focus on developing a therapeutic relationship with the participant. In turn, the drug court Judge becomes the leader of a dynamic therapeutic team while his partners, the treatment providers, keep him informed of each participant’s progress so that rewards and sanctions can be provided.

Drug Court creates an environment with clear and certain rules. The rules are definite, easy to understand, and most important, compliance is within the participant’s control. The rules are based on the participant’s performance and are measurable. For example, the participant appears in court or does not, attends treatment sessions or does not; urinalysis tests reveal drug use or abstinence. The participant’s performance is immediately and directly communicated to the judge, who rewards compliance or penalizes noncompliance. Drug Court establishes an environment that the participant can understand – a system in which clear choices are presented and individuals are encouraged to take control of their own recovery.