The St.
Croix County Drug Court Program is designated and staffed to handle cases
involving drug and alcohol offenders through an intensive, judicially
monitored program of treatment, rehabilitation services, and strict
community supervision. The Drug Court concept is based on an innovative
program that was first developed in Miami, Florida in 1989. The Drug Court
concept has since received widespread attention as an effective treatment
strategy for drug-involved criminal offenders.
Drug Courts are built upon a partnership between the criminal justice system
and the drug and alcohol treatment community which structures treatment
intervention around the authority and personal involvement of a single Drug
Court Judge. Drug Courts are dependent upon the creation of a
non-adversarial courtroom atmosphere where a single Judge and a dedicated
treatment team of court officers and staff work together toward a common
goal of breaking the cycle of drug abuse and criminal behavior.
MISSION
The
mission of the St. Croix County Drug Court is to reduce alcohol and
substance abuse and criminal behavior in order to improve the lives of
offenders, families and the community by providing intensive court
supervision and drug and alcohol treatment while holding offenders
accountable for criminal behavior.
GOALS
Help the Drug Court participant break the cycle of chemical dependency and
alcohol addiction.
Reduce drug and alcohol- related crimes to increase community safety.
Offer effective treatment programming.
Increase employment stability and assist participants in obtaining an HSED/GED.
Ensure the Drug Court participant contributes to Court related costs.
Increase family stability.
THE DRUG COURT TEAM
Honorable Edward F Vlack
St Croix County Circuit
Court Judge
Sandra Frigo
Community Corrections
Agent
Attorney Amber Hahn
St Croix County Assistant
District Attorney
Attorney Liesl Nelson
Assistant Public Defender
Kristin Deprey
St Croix County AODA
Counselor
Investigator Dave Gifford
St Croix County Sheriff's
Department
Amber Perry
Drug Court Coordinator
ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
Candidates for the St. Croix County Drug Court Program must meet the
following criteria to be considered for admission:
Adult - male or female
St. Croix County resident
Pending felony conviction in St. Croix
County of a drug possession or alcohol/ drug use offense; other
alcohol/drug related convictions will be reviewed on a case by case basis
Joint recommendation of prosecuting
attorney and defense counsel and final approval by the sentencing judge OR
a referral from a Probation and Parole Agent from the Department of
Corrections as an Alternative to Revocation
A history of drug or alcohol dependency
Willingness to participate
Physically able to participate in
treatment
Resolution of all pending felony
charges
No convictions for violent or
assaultive felonies or domestic abuse
No history of violent behavior
No severe untreated psychological
problems
Not acutely mentally ill or suicidal
Viable chance of recovery and least
risk to public safety
Must have transportation
Must sign all releases requested of the
Probation and Parole Agent and the Drug Court
INTAKE/REFERRAL
Referrals to the Drug Court
Program may come from the following sources:
The arresting agency
Any Circuit Court Judge
The District Attorney's Office
The Defense Attorney
Probation and Parole Agent
A current treatment provider
A family member
When a referral to the drug Court Program
is made, the potential candidate will attend Drug Court to observe. If the
candidate is interested in participating, a referral can be made to the Drug
Court representative in the District Attorney's office for evaluation and
case resolution involving Drug Court. If the case is appropriate for Drug
Court, the case will be referred to the Drug Court Coordinator for
screening. If the candidate is appropriate for the program, the candidate
will be reviewed by the Drug Court Treatment Team for acceptance into the
program.
CALENDAR
The Drug Court meets weekly
in Branch II of the St. Croix County Government Center on Wednesdays at 8:00
am. The treatment team meets prior to court at 7:30 am. Family members are
welcome to attend Drug Court meetings. Other interested parties may attend
with permission of the Drug Court Team.
TREATMENT AND TESTING
The St. Croix County Drug
Court Program consists of four phases. The initial three phases are each a
minimum of four months long and fourth phase is a minimum of six months
long. Upon application, the Drug Court Coordinator will screen potential
participants to see if they meet minimum requirements. The application is
then reviewed by the Drug Court Team. If the participant meets eligibility
requirements the Court will ask a treatment counselor to complete a
comprehensive Alcohol or Drug (AODA) assessment with the potential
participant. After the assessment is completed, the Drug Court Team will
review the assessment and interview the individual before deciding whether
to admit the individual to Drug Court.
Drug Court participation
involves intensive supervision and random testing to determine compliance
with the rules of the Drug Court Program. The frequency of the random tests
will be determined by the phase each participant is in and is subject to
change based on violations and the recommendation of the Treatment Team.
The Drug Court Team determines when promotion to a higher phase is
appropriate.
Further information regarding the specific
rules and operating procedures of the Drug Court can be found in the Drug
Court Manual below.
FORMS
All applications must be
submitted by and on behalf of a person who has a negotiated plea which
includes completion of the St. Croix County Drug Court program.
Applications to the St. Croix County Drug Court program that are being
submitted by an attorney on behalf of their client must include both the
completed attorney referral form and the completed application
questionnaire. Applications will not be considered until they are
complete. Applications must be submitted to the Drug Court Coordinator at
the Circuit Courts office, located at the south end of the second floor of
the St. Croix County Government Center.
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