Since its inception in August 2016, Cook County Recovery (Treatment) Court has been very successful.
Called drug court in some states, the primary purpose is to use the court’s authority to reduce crime by changing a defendant’s substance abuse behavior. Eligible respondents who agree to participate and follow the recommendations receive dismissed charges or reduced sentences.
Aleesha Ward, 6th District Treatment Courts Coordinator, Northern St. Louis and Cook County, is “seeking support to help with our incentive program. Incentives are used throughout the duration of each person’s time with us. Whether it’s to congratulate a milestone such as reaching the next phase of the program, completing treatment, finishing a task or assignment… or just a token of motivation. I am hoping to reach out to the community in hopes of support/donations while I continue working on receiving funds.”
Ward said the mission of Recovery Court is to provide intervention with substance abuse offenders by requiring increased accountability, empowering people to change their lives and restoring participants to law-abiding productivity.
“This will create a safer community by reducing repeat offenders and drug-related activities,” Ward said.
What the kind of support Ward is seeking from the community isn’t monumental. Gift cards for gasoline, for food, for restaurants, for movies, tickets to games, etc.
If you would like to help, contact Aleesha at Aleesha. Ward@courts.state.mn.us.
Greg Barnier, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor for Cook County Public Health, works with people assigned to Recovery Court, as it is called in Cook County.
Last August, Barnier said Recovery Court is available to six to eight people a year, clients he described as “high risk, high need.” These are people that have a significant risk of re-offending, of using drugs or alcohol again. High need clients are those, said Barnier, that don’t have a job, education, a place to live or face some other difficult situation.
Recovery Court uses a non-adversarial approach and prosecution, and defense counsel collaborates in the process. Every two weeks participants appear before the judge, an essential component of the program. Participants submit to random drug tests and cooperate with treatment programs. As each phase is completed, participants get closer to “graduating.”
The collaboration of agency efforts reduces the financial burden on the public, added Ward. The North Shore Recovery Court team consists of Judge Michael Cuzzo, Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken, a public defender, Cook County law enforcement, probation, Social Services, local treatment providers and Coordinator Ward.
Barnier said, “The judge has been very supportive; the attorney is very supportive. If individuals come with a dirty UA [urine analysis drug test], they don’t get thrown in jail anymore, and they get encouraged to keep working on their treatment program, trying to get clean…The judge is telling them he is proud of them. All of these people are doing better.”
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