For many, drug addiction is an illness that can be a struggle and can involve social, legal and health problems that can follow them throughout their lives.
For the past 15 years, Treatment Court of Sweetwater County has aimed to help addicts who end up in the criminal-justice system by providing them with support to improve their lives.
According to Agusta Clayton-Davis, coordinator for treatment court, it gives people a chance to learn skills and tools to become productive members of the community. Clayton-Davis views the program more as a community service than a punishment for breaking the law, saying her passion is to make sure those placed with drug court are being rehabilitated, not just serving time.
The court represents a partnership between several agencies, including both city police departments, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office, the Wyoming Department of Family Services and others, all of which have representation on the treatment court team. Circuit Court Judge John Prokos presides over treatment court hearings. Referrals to the program come from defense attorneys or by members of the team and are evaluated, which includes a risk assessment and a pre-sentence investigation. If approved by the treatment court team, the recommendation is sent to the judge involved in the candidate’s case. Clayton-Davis said they usually involve district court judges because many of the situations involve felony-level drug crimes. The judge then decides at sentencing if treatment court would be part of the sentence.
Clayton-Davis said most people who are sentenced to treatment court are involved with the program for 12-18 months, but can be in it for as long as 2 1/2 years. They go through four levels and undergo addiction treatment and work on creating and maintaining healthy relationships and work environments. This can include parenting classes, attaining a GED and enrolling in a financial management course.
“We try to cover several facets of treatment and their health,” Clayton-Davis said. “We’re a little unconventional in the way we do things.”
Those admitted to treatment court also attend treatment court hearings twice a month, which Clayton-Davis said are more casual then traditional court hearings, but still operate under the framework. The hearings provide team members with updates on the progress people are making through the program.
Once they complete treatment court requirements, they graduate from the program in a ceremony that involves all of the clients in the program, as well as team representatives.
“We want them to see the success piece,” Clayton-Davis said.
Once someone achieves the upper levels of the program, Clayton-Davis said they start integrating them with treatment court’s alumni group.
The group meets for breakfast once a month and host monthly family activities.
Clayton-Davis said drug addiction continues to be a prevalent issue in the county. If treatment court accepted every application, she said the program would easily be four or five times larger than it is currently, which shows her the need for the services treatment court provides.
“It’s taxing on our community,” she said.
Clayton-Davis said addiction is an illness that continues to carry a stigma with it, but believes the entire community is impacted by addiction and an approach that provides the empathy some people need while making them take accountability for their actions is essential to helping the community.
She said the criminal piece to addiction can be dissolved if addiction itself is addressed.
“Those living with addiction are just as valuable as other people in our community,” Clayton-Davis said.
Reader Comments(0)