Adult Drug Treatment Court

What is Adult Drug Treatment Court?

Adult Drug Treatment Court is a court supervised, intensive, outpatient drug treatment program. It is highly structured, consisting of at least twelve (12) months of treatment.

The program schematic allows for a participant to be discharged and the charge(s) expunged if the treatment team and the Court agrees that significant progress has been made.

The purpose of the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program is to bring together the criminal justice and the public health systems to meaningfully treat chemically dependent offenders, thereby reducing drug use, increasing public safety and improving the quality of life for the community.

Who Can Apply?

If you have a history of drug use and convictions for drug crimes or drug related crimes, you are eligible to apply to the program. Above all, you must have a desire to change. Referrals can be made by public defenders, private attorneys, family members or the defendants themselves. A simple phone call to the Adult Drug Court Treatment Program office will start the process. It is very important to discuss the program with your attorney.

Adult Drug Treatment Court Will Not Admit Those With:

• Probation for a violent offense to include stalking and harassment
• Pending charges that may prevent completion of the program
• Prior conviction(s) for a violent crime to include stalking and harassment
• Chronic mental illness
• Companion weapon charges
• Domestic Violence charges
• History of drug dealing
• Lewd Acts on a Minor
• Traffic offenses
• Gang Affiliation
• Criminal Sexual Conduct with minor

Program Requirements

The Solicitor’s Office will review and present cases to the Adult Drug Treatment Court judge. The Solicitor’s Office has the final authority to accept or refuse applications to the program. The judge has the final authority on all applicants admitted to the program.

To enter the program, a defendant must admit his/her guilt. Jurisdiction of the charges will be transferred by the court system to the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program. The transferring court will accept the guilty plea and will issue a conditional discharge for the offense. Successful completion of the Drug Court program will result in a dismissal of the charges.

Performance, compliance and sobriety determine how long a defendant remains in the program. All defendants spend at least one year under the supervision of the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program.

Adult Drug Treatment Court employs escalating sanctions in response to noncompliance with program requirements. Should the participant use drugs, miss counseling or court appointments, display poor attitude or in any other way not comply with the program requirements, the judge will order sanctions. These sanctions include but are not limited to: community service, additional counseling sessions, increased drug testing, monetary fines, jail time or dismissal from the program.

Dismissal from the program will result in the defendant’s case being sent back to the traditional court system for immediate prosecution.

The Adult Drug Treatment Court judge will also recognize progress with awards, certificates and verbal acknowledgement.

Treatment Plan

Phase I (minimum of 4 months)

• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Orientation session\Initial assessment
• Treatment plan is established
• 3 group sessions per week
• 90 AA/NA meetings in 90 days and a minimum of 2 AA/NA meetings per week
• Appearance in Drug Court three times per month
• Random weekly drug test to include Saturday drug tests
• Proof of employment

Advancement from Phase I to Phase II is contingent Adult Drug Treatment Court judge, program manager and treatment provider.

Phase II (minimum of 4 months)

• 2 group sessions per week
• Minimum of 3 AA/NA meetings per week
• Appearance in Drug Court twice per month
• Random weekly drug test to include Saturday drug tests
• Proof of employment

Following advancement to Phase II, the treatment provider will review the treatment plan with the participant and establish specific goals to be reached. A relapse prevention plan will be created with the participant.

Advancement to Phase III is contingent upon participant’s motivation and progress, and an interview with the Adult Drug Treatment Court judge, program manager and treatment provider.

Phase III (3 months)

Phase III participants have met specific goals consistent with the treatment plan devised and have demonstrated a consistently drug-free life style.

• Group sessions once per week
• Minimum of 4 AA/NA meetings per week
• Appearance in Drug Court once per month
• Weekly drug test
• Proof of employment
• Advancement to Phase IV is contingent upon participant’s motivation and progress and an interview with the Adult Drug Treatment Court judge, program manager and treatment provider.

Phase IV – Aftercare (3 months)

• Individual sessions twice per month
• Minimum of 2 AA/NA meetings per week
• Appearance in Drug Court once per month
• At least two random drug tests per month
• Proof of employment
• In order to graduate from the program, participants must meet all financial obligations for treatment.

The Adult Drug Treatment Court Program is a joint project between:

• Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
• City of Columbia
• City of Columbia Police Department
• Richland County Government
• Richland County Public Defender’s Office
• Richland County Sheriff’s Department

For more information or to apply please contact:

Adult Drug Treatment Court
Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office
Post Office Box 192
1701 Main Street, West Wing
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Phone 803.576.1893
Fax 803.576.1592