On Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m., the Oakland County Adult Treatment Court (ATC) will hold its thirtieth graduation ceremony since its inception in August of 2001. Six graduates will be honored with a ceremony and reception to be held at the Oakland County Commissioners Auditorium attached to the Sixth Circuit Courthouse located at 1200 North Telegraph Road in Pontiac.
The ATC has served 379 participants to date. The ATC is a four-phase intervention program for non-violent, felony offenders who find it difficult to maintain sobriety. Without acceptance into the ATC program these individuals would otherwise be facing a probable sentence of months, if not years, in jail or prison. The program's key elements are: extremely close judicial and community supervision, intense substance-abuse treatment, frequent substance abuse testing, and a long-term commitment to program requirements. The ATC team consists of two judges: Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Joan E. Young, who presides over the male participants, and Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Colleen O'Brien, who presides over the female participants. Additional members of ATC team include the defense attorney, probation officer, a program supervisor, and various treatment providers. While the ATC meets bi-weekly, the team is in daily contact, intensely monitoring and intervening with the programs participants.
The ATC expects participants to find and maintain employment, consistently participate in treatment, pay court costs, including restitution to the victims of their crimes and of course, take responsibility for the support of their children. Notably, the recidivism rates for graduates of the program are 37% lower than felons who never participate in the Adult Treatment Court.
"The cost associated with alcohol and drug abusing offenders is staggering. The impact on the substance abuser's family is profound," O'Brien notes. "Oakland County Sixth Circuit Court is doing its part through the Adult Treatment Court to address these issues and find solutions that will be mutually beneficial to the defendants, their families, victims and the community at large."
For additional information about this program, contact Jacqueline Howes-Evanson at (248) 452-2154. Anyone wishing to make a donation to either the Adult Treatment Court or the Juvenile Drug Court may do so via the RESTORE Foundation website at www.therestorefoundation.org.
Published: Fri, Oct 14, 2011
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