Ray Combest Drug Court

The Basics of Drug Court
The Ray Combest Drug Court is an intensive probation program in the 9th Judicial District designed for offenders with significant substance abuse problems.  Clients participate in substance abuse treatment while receiving probation supervision and ongoing judicial case reviews while remaining in the community and self supporting.  All clients referred to Drug Court must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to be admitted to the program. 

BENEFITS OF DRUG COURT
The primary benefit of Drug Court participation is that all clients receive intensive substance abuse treatment in a structured framework while receiving judicial supervision. Clients will gain skills and insight that will empower them to achieve long-term sobriety and to live a life free from criminal conduct. Additionally, participants receive probation supervision in a coordinated service delivery approach that views substance abuse and addiction from a therapeutic perspective.

The Ray Combest Drug Court is an intensive judicial supervision and treatment program for defendant’s who have become involved in the criminal courts directly related to their substance abusing behavior. In order to achieve maximum benefit from the program, participants are expected to participate in all program components in meaningful and authentic ways. Participants are expected to attend and participate at all court reviews, SSC classes, probation appointments or other court ordered requirements of the Drug Court. Graduated sanctions will be imposed for failing to meet court ordered requirements of the Ray Combest Drug Court plan as set forth on page 12 and 13. Sanctions are designed to address program violations and assist clients in motivating themselves towards treatment and compliance.The Ray Combest Drug Court is an intensive probation program in the 9th Judicial District designed for offenders with significant substance abuse problems. Clients participate in substance abuse treatment while receiving probation supervision and ongoing judicial case reviews. All clients referred to drug court must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to be admitted into the program.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
There are three phases that participants must complete to successfully graduate from the program. Although some participants can complete the program in shorter amounts of time, on average it takes approximately 15-18 months from Phase I to graduation. Clients progress in the program by complying with program rules and regulations and by demonstrating the ability to apply and practice the skills they learn in SSC in their daily lives.

During Phase I clients appear before the judge every other week for case reviews. The probation officer and SSC provider will also report to the judge at that time. Phase II participants appear before the judge once per month and Phase III every six weeks. Participants must keep in mind that compliance with all the components of the program is mandatory.

The Ray Combest Drug Court is an intensive program of treatment and supervision with high expectations for program participants. Clients will be expected to meet with their probation officer three to four times per month in Phase I and II. Clients will also attend SSC up to two times per week in Phase I and II and once per week in Phase III.

PROGRAM RULES
Participants are required to comply with the terms and conditions reviewed and agreed upon during the intake appointment with their probation officer. Clients will be responsible for complying with both the terms and conditions ordered by the court and the specific agreement developed for the Ray Combest Drug Court. These conditions are orders of the court and violations could be grounds for dismissal from the program. Additionally, participants are required to comply with all treatment components of the program. Weekly SSC attendance and meaningful participation is required as well as full compliance with the drug testing program. Additionally, all clients will develop an individualized case plan with their probation officer that will be considered part of their overall treatment plan. Any questions or concerns about program rules should be addressed with your probation officer. All drug court clients participate in the Strategies for Self Improvement and Change (SSC) treatment program. This is an outpatient treatment program that is based on a cognitive behavioral theoretical approach and the curriculum developed by Ken Wanberg and Harvey Milkman. Private providers with White River Counseling, Addictive Behavior Counseling and Roaring Fork Counseling provide this treatment. There are three phases to Drug Court and three corresponding phases to SSC. Each treatment phase has its own treatment goals and skill sets that clients are responsible for achieving. Clients progress from one phase to another based on recommendations from the SSC provider to the probation officer. The probation officer is responsible for making these recommendations to the judge within the context of a drug court review. 

DRUG TESTING
Clients are assigned a color and will be given reporting instructions at their probation intake appointment. This is a random program that requires clients to call the color line daily and report to the provider location when their color is called. All tests are monitored by provider staff. The random testing program is designed to be very intensive for Phase I clients and then to decrease in frequency as participants commit to the change process.

Participants who miss or have positive drug tests will be sanctioned within the drug court framework. Participants who repeatedly test clean for substances might be released from testing as deemed appropriate by the probation officer. Clients should not take prescription medication without informing their probation officer.

DRUG COURT FEES
Participants in the Ray Combest Drug Court are required to pay for services they receive while in the program. Participants pay for the weekly SSC classes, drug tests and individual treatment as developed in their case plans. Participants are expected to make consistent payments toward the court costs associated with their probation sentence. Clients who do not stay current with program fees or court costs could be suspended from the program. Every effort is made to allow participants to deal with issues of substance abuse and criminal conduct within the framework of Drug Court. However, there are situations where participants are discharged from the program and referred back to the formal criminal justice system. Clients can be discharged from the program for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

 
DISMISSAL FROM DRUG COURT
Failure to appear at regular case reviews Failure to comply with any of the standard components of the drug court treatment plan New criminal charges which create a risk of future incarceration that would significantly hinder a participant’s ability to comply with drug court standards Graduated sanctions have failed to resolve issues of noncompliance Any Conduct which jeopardizes the success of any other participant in the Ray Combest Drug Court

EXPECTATIONS
Attendance at self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, based on 12 step recovery principles, is often an additional requirement of the program. All Drug Court clients must enroll and comply with the random drug testing program. Clients may be required to complete as many as ten drug tests per month. Clients are expected to be financially responsible for the cost of their Drug Court program that includes drug screens, SSC and court costs associated with their case. Participants are encouraged and expected to actively participate in case reviews with the drug court judge in an open and honest manner.