VERITAS Adult Drug Treatment Court
Contact Name: Margie Collins
Address: 415 Cumberland Street, Bristol, VA 24201
Phone: 276-591-7758
Email: [email protected]
Mission and Goals:
VERITAS Adult Drug Treatment Court, (hereinafter VADTC)
Mission Statement The VADTC seeks to reduce drug use and recidivism within the community by implementing a court-based program, that includes supervision, evaluation, treatment, and monitoring for its participants, with the goal of promoting productivity, development of potential, and a safer, healthier community.
Vision Statement The VADTC works as a catalyst for positive change in program participants and the community. Through commitment and strong ethics, using best practices, the program encourages participants to realize and reach their full potential.
Services Provided:
These ten key components provide an outline of drug court philosophy and requirements. The VADTC has adopted the ten key components.
1. VADTC integrates alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing. VADTC promotes recovery through a coordinated response to offenders dependent on alcohol and other drugs. Realization of these goals requires a team approach including cooperation and collaboration among the judge, the Commonwealth Attorney, defense counsel, state probation, law enforcement, treatment providers and other community agencies.
2. Using a non-adversarial approach, the Commonwealth Attorney and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due process rights. To facilitate a participant’s progress in treatment, the Commonwealth Attorney and defense counsel work together as a team. Once a defendant is accepted into drug court, the team’s focus is on the participant’s recovery and law-abiding behavior, not on the merits of the underlying criminal offense.
3. Eligible participants are identified early and placed in drug court. Eligible participants may be identified at the time of arrest by law enforcement. Arrest often creates an immediate crisis and can force substance-abusing behavior into the open. The period immediately after an arrest provides a critical window of opportunity for intervention and introduces the value of substance abuse treatment. Eligibility, referral and assessment action in the program may be taken at this time.
4. VADTC provides access to a continuum of alcohol, drug and other related treatment and rehabilitation services. In the VADTC, the process begins in the courtroom and continues throughout the participant’s VADTC involvement. While primarily concerned with criminal activity and substance abuse, the VADTC team may address other issues such as mental illness, medical problems, homelessness, educational needs, and unemployment. If these issues are ignored, they could impact the participant’s program compliance and success in treatment.
5. Abstinence is monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing, including evenings and weekends. Frequent and random court-ordered drug testing is an essential tool for the participant to remain clean and sober. An accurate testing system is the most objective and efficient way to establish a framework for accountability and to gauge each participant’s progress. Drug testing makes the participant an active and involved part of the treatment process.
6. A coordinated strategy governs the VADTC response to participant’s compliance. Many participants exhibit a pattern of positive urine tests within the first months following admission in the program. When this occurs, immediate sanctions are applied. Because addiction takes development, with many factors contributing to chemical dependency, it is rare that an individual stops using when treatment begins. It is recognized that relapse may be part of recovery, continued use is not condoned and a coordinated strategy, including a continuum of responses to each relapse or other issues of non-compliance is essential. The VADTC rewards cooperation as well as response to non-compliance. Incentives such as praise from the Judge, and lessened restrictions, have an important effect on a participant’s sense of purpose and accomplishment
7. Ongoing judicial interaction with each VADTC participant is essential. The Judge is a member of the VADTC team. The Judge conducts drug court sessions and staffing, monitors and reviews the participant’s progress in VADTC, encourages and rewards appropriate behavior, discourages and sanctions inappropriate behavior. Ongoing judicial supervision communicates to participants, often for the first time that someone in authority cares about their progress and program success.
8. Case monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of the VADTC goals and gauge effectiveness. Coordinated management, monitoring, and evaluation systems are fundamental to the effective operation of the drug court. The VADTC strives to demonstrate tangible outcomes and cost-effectiveness; thus there are systems in place to monitor daily activities, evaluating the quality and effectiveness of provided service, and producing programmatic evaluations.
9. Continuing education and training promotes effective VADTC planning, implementation, and operations. Interdisciplinary education exposes criminal justice professionals to treatment issues and treatment professionals to criminal justice issues. It also develops a shared understanding of the values, goals and operating procedures of both the criminal justice and treatment components.
10. Forging partnerships among the VADTC, public agencies, and community-based organizations generates local support and enhances drug court effectiveness. Because of its unique position in the criminal justice system, the VADTC is well suited to develop coalitions among community-based service organizations, criminal justice agencies and treatment delivery systems. The VADTC is a partnership among organizations dedicated to a coordinated and cooperative approach to the drug addicted offender.
Service Area:
City of Bristol, VA
Washington County, VA
Criteria for Individuals to Receive Services:
Eligibility Criteria
Offenders entering the VADTC program must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Offenders Included
• Voluntary;
• A resident of Bristol, Virginia or Washington County, Virginia;
• May have a brief history of misdemeanor assault;
• Age 18 or older at the time of sentencing or adjudicated as an adult;
• Clinically evaluated to meet the DSM-V Criteria for a Substance Dependence/Addiction Diagnosis;
• Offenders with co-occurring diagnosis of mental illness are reviewed for enrollment on an individual basis (excluding unsuccessfully managed psychotic disorders).
Offenses Included
• Primarily drug driven;
• DUI 3rd Offense;
• Possession;
• Forgery and Uttering;
• Larceny;
• Embezzlement;
• Most property crimes;
• Fraud.
Additional Criteria
• Verification of a working landline telephone at an approved Virginia residence.
Disqualification Criteria
Offenders may be disqualified from program entry, continuation, or graduation if it is in the best interest of community safety, and/or credibility of the VADTC program to do so. Although it is difficult to identify every circumstance that may lead to program disqualification, examples may include:
Offenders Excluded
• Violent offender history;
• Prior distributor of drugs;
• Prior arrest for possession of weapons;
• Prior sex offender;
• Offenders with unsuccessfully managed psychotic disorders;
• Offenders with chronic medical problems being treated with addictive medications;
• Offenders with medical problems that would preclude them from actively and regularly participating in segments of the VADTC program.
Offenses Excluded
• Misdemeanors;
• Distribution;
• Conspiracy to sell drugs;
• Violent offenses;
• Weapons offenses;
• Burglary of an occupied dwelling;
• Sex offenses;
• Offenses characterized as Category I and II Offenses as defined by the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.
Address: 415 Cumberland Street, Bristol, VA 24201
Phone: 276-591-7758
Email: [email protected]
Mission and Goals:
VERITAS Adult Drug Treatment Court, (hereinafter VADTC)
Mission Statement The VADTC seeks to reduce drug use and recidivism within the community by implementing a court-based program, that includes supervision, evaluation, treatment, and monitoring for its participants, with the goal of promoting productivity, development of potential, and a safer, healthier community.
Vision Statement The VADTC works as a catalyst for positive change in program participants and the community. Through commitment and strong ethics, using best practices, the program encourages participants to realize and reach their full potential.
Services Provided:
These ten key components provide an outline of drug court philosophy and requirements. The VADTC has adopted the ten key components.
1. VADTC integrates alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing. VADTC promotes recovery through a coordinated response to offenders dependent on alcohol and other drugs. Realization of these goals requires a team approach including cooperation and collaboration among the judge, the Commonwealth Attorney, defense counsel, state probation, law enforcement, treatment providers and other community agencies.
2. Using a non-adversarial approach, the Commonwealth Attorney and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due process rights. To facilitate a participant’s progress in treatment, the Commonwealth Attorney and defense counsel work together as a team. Once a defendant is accepted into drug court, the team’s focus is on the participant’s recovery and law-abiding behavior, not on the merits of the underlying criminal offense.
3. Eligible participants are identified early and placed in drug court. Eligible participants may be identified at the time of arrest by law enforcement. Arrest often creates an immediate crisis and can force substance-abusing behavior into the open. The period immediately after an arrest provides a critical window of opportunity for intervention and introduces the value of substance abuse treatment. Eligibility, referral and assessment action in the program may be taken at this time.
4. VADTC provides access to a continuum of alcohol, drug and other related treatment and rehabilitation services. In the VADTC, the process begins in the courtroom and continues throughout the participant’s VADTC involvement. While primarily concerned with criminal activity and substance abuse, the VADTC team may address other issues such as mental illness, medical problems, homelessness, educational needs, and unemployment. If these issues are ignored, they could impact the participant’s program compliance and success in treatment.
5. Abstinence is monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing, including evenings and weekends. Frequent and random court-ordered drug testing is an essential tool for the participant to remain clean and sober. An accurate testing system is the most objective and efficient way to establish a framework for accountability and to gauge each participant’s progress. Drug testing makes the participant an active and involved part of the treatment process.
6. A coordinated strategy governs the VADTC response to participant’s compliance. Many participants exhibit a pattern of positive urine tests within the first months following admission in the program. When this occurs, immediate sanctions are applied. Because addiction takes development, with many factors contributing to chemical dependency, it is rare that an individual stops using when treatment begins. It is recognized that relapse may be part of recovery, continued use is not condoned and a coordinated strategy, including a continuum of responses to each relapse or other issues of non-compliance is essential. The VADTC rewards cooperation as well as response to non-compliance. Incentives such as praise from the Judge, and lessened restrictions, have an important effect on a participant’s sense of purpose and accomplishment
7. Ongoing judicial interaction with each VADTC participant is essential. The Judge is a member of the VADTC team. The Judge conducts drug court sessions and staffing, monitors and reviews the participant’s progress in VADTC, encourages and rewards appropriate behavior, discourages and sanctions inappropriate behavior. Ongoing judicial supervision communicates to participants, often for the first time that someone in authority cares about their progress and program success.
8. Case monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of the VADTC goals and gauge effectiveness. Coordinated management, monitoring, and evaluation systems are fundamental to the effective operation of the drug court. The VADTC strives to demonstrate tangible outcomes and cost-effectiveness; thus there are systems in place to monitor daily activities, evaluating the quality and effectiveness of provided service, and producing programmatic evaluations.
9. Continuing education and training promotes effective VADTC planning, implementation, and operations. Interdisciplinary education exposes criminal justice professionals to treatment issues and treatment professionals to criminal justice issues. It also develops a shared understanding of the values, goals and operating procedures of both the criminal justice and treatment components.
10. Forging partnerships among the VADTC, public agencies, and community-based organizations generates local support and enhances drug court effectiveness. Because of its unique position in the criminal justice system, the VADTC is well suited to develop coalitions among community-based service organizations, criminal justice agencies and treatment delivery systems. The VADTC is a partnership among organizations dedicated to a coordinated and cooperative approach to the drug addicted offender.
Service Area:
City of Bristol, VA
Washington County, VA
Criteria for Individuals to Receive Services:
Eligibility Criteria
Offenders entering the VADTC program must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Offenders Included
• Voluntary;
• A resident of Bristol, Virginia or Washington County, Virginia;
• May have a brief history of misdemeanor assault;
• Age 18 or older at the time of sentencing or adjudicated as an adult;
• Clinically evaluated to meet the DSM-V Criteria for a Substance Dependence/Addiction Diagnosis;
• Offenders with co-occurring diagnosis of mental illness are reviewed for enrollment on an individual basis (excluding unsuccessfully managed psychotic disorders).
Offenses Included
• Primarily drug driven;
• DUI 3rd Offense;
• Possession;
• Forgery and Uttering;
• Larceny;
• Embezzlement;
• Most property crimes;
• Fraud.
Additional Criteria
• Verification of a working landline telephone at an approved Virginia residence.
Disqualification Criteria
Offenders may be disqualified from program entry, continuation, or graduation if it is in the best interest of community safety, and/or credibility of the VADTC program to do so. Although it is difficult to identify every circumstance that may lead to program disqualification, examples may include:
Offenders Excluded
• Violent offender history;
• Prior distributor of drugs;
• Prior arrest for possession of weapons;
• Prior sex offender;
• Offenders with unsuccessfully managed psychotic disorders;
• Offenders with chronic medical problems being treated with addictive medications;
• Offenders with medical problems that would preclude them from actively and regularly participating in segments of the VADTC program.
Offenses Excluded
• Misdemeanors;
• Distribution;
• Conspiracy to sell drugs;
• Violent offenses;
• Weapons offenses;
• Burglary of an occupied dwelling;
• Sex offenses;
• Offenses characterized as Category I and II Offenses as defined by the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.