The topic that I have chosen for this paper is one that I am passionate about, and for obvious reasons. In March of 2017, I graduated from Crow Wing County’s Drug Court program. After being incinerated over a dozen times, attending multiple outpatient programs and therapy sessions, I continued to use drugs and break the law.
Just to give an overview of what our local Drug Court program looks like I will explain the format. The program is twenty-two months long as is divided in to four “Phases”. Each phase has a different level of accountability. During the first phase participants are required to obtain a chemical use assessment and follow the recommendations. Recommendations usually suggest either inpatient or outpatient treatment. There is a minimum requirement of two meetings with your probation officer and two urine analysis/breath tests per week. Participants must attend Drug Court at the Courthouse with other participants a minimum of two times per month and abide by a 10PM curfew. (CWCJ)
Phase two of the program looks similar to the first phase. This phase is six months long and during these six months’ participants are expected to continue their drug treatment program and make plans for either employment or education. Urine analysis and breath tests drop to once per week and probation officer meetings drop to twice per month. Curfew moves to 11PM. (CWCJ) Phase three is six months long and requires participants to continue taking urine analysis at least once per week. During this phase participants are expected to attend Drug Court only once per month and meet with probation twice per month. Curfew moves to midnight. The final phase is six months long and probation staff schedules urine analysis randomly during the month. Participants must have established employment or be enrolled in an education program and complete 30 hours of community service. The final requirement for the program is that participants pay a fee of ...