Thursday, March 28, 2024

Costs, recidivism decline

Okanogan County drug court follows NACDP model

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OKANOGAN – Thirteen years ago, the Okanogan County Superior Court joined a growing justice movement that had already been in existence for more than a decade aimed at providing a more effective model for treatment of substance abuse offenders, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP).

At 10 a.m. every Friday, Superior Court Judge Chris Culp convenes the Okanogan County felony drug court sessions that are open to the public. The proceedings operate on a premise established by the NADCP nearly three decades ago: rather than continue to allow individuals with histories of addiction and crime to cycle through the justice system at great expense to the public, courts leverage the justice system to keep defendants engaged in treatment alternatives long enough to be successful. Those who succeed avoid the otherwise negative consequence of most criminal proceedings.

Last Friday, June 14, Judge Culp reviewed the individual progress of a half dozen defendants who are working their way through a four-phase, two-year treatment regimen that involves counseling, job-seeking, community service, continuing education, accountability, restitution, and other measures designed to reinforce steady progress through a recovery schedule.

Judge Culp also extended the invitation to join the program to four new offenders who attended the session in jail attire and restraints.

During his interaction with those enrolled in the treatment program, Judge Culp emerged from behind the bench, walked to the center of the court room and engaged each individual in turn with a cordial and positive manner. Well-informed on each case history, Judge Culp praised where praise was due and encouraged where appropriate in a narrative that conveyed his investment and support of a successful outcome. Following audience applause and a handshake from the judge, each participant selected a small gift from a reward box for their efforts and attendance.

Law enforcement takes an active role in team meetings and court sessions. They “work collaboratively with the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, treatment providers and case managers,” a drug court media release said.

Brewster Police Chief Nattalie Cariker has been instrumental in efforts to get law enforcement representatives from around the county to attend drug court sessions throughout the year.

“Okanogan County (felony) Drug Court is an important research-based treatment court for the county to utilize to prevent individuals reoffending by addressing their addictions with different services,” said Cariker. “Law enforcement is a partner of the treatment court by referring, being involved in the team meetings and court proceedings.”

Cariker added that the goal is to get individuals back to a heathy and sober life during and after their participation in drug court.

While not all who enter drug court are successful, figures to figures from the NADCP reflect up to a 58 percent reduction in recidivism and an average participant savings of $6,000 to the court. In an economically challenged county like Okanogan those savings aren’t insignificant. Judge Culp noted that all the county’s therapeutic courts operate on a budget of less than $600,000.

That NADCP model now involves more than 3,000 programs across every state in the nation, four territories and more than 20 countries. Last May was recognized as National Drug Court Month. There are 3,454 drug courts in the U.S. that serve more than 150,000 people annually.

Okanogan’s drug court will soon be adding a new coordinator to its staff who will be responsible for program accountability issues.

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