Drug Court

Geary County Drug Court will strive to reduce recidivism of alcohol and drug offenders in the criminal justice system and provide community protection with a cost effective, integrated continuum of care through the development and utilization of community resources. Drug Court will hold defendants accountable and will assist them to achieve long-term recovery to become law-abiding citizens and successful family/community members.

The Geary County Drug Court Program is a court that is designed to manage cases involving non-violent drug offenders. The program will be a court-supervised, comprehensive program for select chemically dependent defendants. The Drug Court concept was based on a program established in Miami, Florida in 1989, with the goal of reducing both substance abuse and criminal behavior.

Drug Courts are established by a team approach between the criminal justice system and the drug treatment organizations. This partnership structures treatment intervention around the influence and personal involvement of a single Drug Court Judge. The Judge and a dedicated team of professionals work together toward a similar goal of stopping the cycle of drug abuse and criminal behavior.

Unique problems and opportunities may arise while working with criminal offenders using drugs, therefore treatment and rehabilitation strategies must recognize:

• Relapse and periodic advancements are part of recovery, therefore, progressive sanctions and incentives must be integral to the Drug Court strategy.
• The addiction to alcohol and drugs is usually accompanied by other serious problems that threaten rehabilitation, so treatment will need to include other services and resources such as educational and vocational assessment.
• Treatment for addiction to drugs and alcohol must be long-term and comprehensive.
• Communication is key to assuring offenders accountability and success. Court supervision must be highly coordinated and comprehensive.
• Addicts are most vulnerable to successful intervention when they are in the crisis of initial arrest and incarceration, so intervention must be immediate and up-front.

Goals of the Geary County Drug Court Program

1. Assist participants in the Drug Court Program to stop the cycle of chemical dependency and addiction.
2. Increase community safety by reducing drug and alcohol related crimes.
3. Offer sanctions, rewards, and treatment programming that are effective.
4. Assure Drug Court participants begin the program as soon as possible.
5. Assist participants in obtaining their education and in gaining/maintaining employment.
6. Increase family stability and improve interpersonal relationships.
7. Assure Drug Court participants make appropriate contributions to all Court related costs.
8. Provide resources to participants to ensure continued progress both during and after completion of program.

Click here to view the Drug Court manual.