Drug Court

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Rome/Floyd County Drug Court program is to decrease recidivism, promote long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol addiction, and increase the integrity, honesty and citizenship of each participant.

PROGRAM HISTORY

The Rome/Floyd County Drug Court is a post-plea accountability court designed for non-violent, substance abusing offenders as an alternative to incarceration. The Drug Court Program is built upon a unique partnership between the criminal justice system and Addictive Disease Treatment providers. The partnership is one that structures treatment intervention around the authority and personal involvement of a single judge. The Drug Court Program is also dependent upon the creation of a non-adversarial courtroom atmosphere where a single judge and dedicated team work toward a common goal of breaking the cycle of drug abuse and criminal behavior.

The goals of the Drug Court Program are to:  

• Reduce participant contact with the criminal justice system including no new/additional charges since entrance in program.
• Reduce costs associated with criminal case processing and recidivism.
• Reduce jail overcrowding.
• Introduce participants to an ongoing process of recovery designed to achieve total abstinence from illegal drugs and/or alcohol abuse; and  
• Promote self-sufficiency and empower substance abusers to become productive and responsible members of the community through varies treatment modalities.
• Promote whole health and wellness by ensuring participants have connection to other services to include but not limited to: Mental Health Services, Veterans Services, Medical/Dental Services, Housing Services.
• Promote participants to abide by restitution orders to victims and/or the community.
• Promote public safety.
• Save taxpayers money.
• Early age intervention.
• Community awareness.
• Compliance with all program rules and regulations.   

The present policy of incarceration has not shown reduced drug addiction nor lowered the incidence of crime within the community. The Drug Court Program’s premise is based on the notion that intense judicial supervision coupled with immediate intensive treatment intervention after case disposition creates a significant opportunity for successful supervision. Treatment for drug addicted defendants who are processed through the criminal justice system is lowered due to this notion. While rehabilitating substance abuse offenders, the Drug Court Program’s aim is to protect our community by decreasing drug-related crimes and reducing recidivism. The goal of the Drug Court Program is to promote positive interaction and effectiveness between the criminal justice system, community treatment agencies, and offenders. Similar drug courts have proven successful in several jurisdictions across the United States.

The Drug Court Program is an eighteen (18) month minimum substance abuse treatment/rehabilitation program that includes frequent random drug testing, judicial supervision, intensive substance abuse treatment, educational/vocational training, life skills training, social skills training, and the use of court-imposed sanctions and incentives.