Lane County Life Treatment Court
Lane County Focus Treatment CourtFor 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 the Lane County Treatment Court is to stop the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and related criminal activity.
Treatment 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 Focus Treatment Court Program, the Circuit Court will dismiss the original cases that brought the participant into the program. Clients who complete treatment court, as a condition of their probation, will not face probation sanctions.
In the Lane County Focus Treatment Court, the treatment experience begins in the courtroom and continues through the participant's court involvement. Treatment 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 evidence-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:
- HIV Alliance to provide testing and information regarding high risk activities
- Sponsors, Inc. for structured housing and transitional living programs
- Clean and sober housing with various recovery houses, such as Oxford, Fresh Start and Housing Our Veterans
In addition the program has one case manager and multiple peer support specialists who assist clients with barriers interfering with their progress, as well as a two mental health therapists who provides individual, group and family therapy.
The Treatment Court Judge is the central figure in a team effort that focuses on sobriety and accountability as the primary goals. Because the Treatment Court Judge takes on the role of trying to keep participants engaged in treatment, the EMERGENCE's Focus Program can effectively focus on developing a therapeutic relationship with the participant. In turn, the Treatment Court Judge becomes the leader of a dynamic therapeutic team while her partners, the treatment providers, keep her informed of each participant's progress so that rewards and sanctions can be provided.
Treatment 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. The participant's performance is immediately and directly communicated to the judge, who rewards compliance or penalizes noncompliance.
Treatment 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.
