Program Description

Welcome to the Bannock County Juvenile Drug Court program. The Juvenile Drug Court is a court-managed drug and alcohol intervention treatment program designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional criminal case processing. The program is administered by a team consisting of the Juvenile Judge, the Drug Court Coordinator, Drug Court Probation Officers, a Deputy Prosecutor, a Deputy Public Defender, treatment center providers, and Drug Court Officers.

Supervision

Your probation officer will be responsible for supervising you during the program. Supervision may include home visits, random drug and alcohol tests, and curfew checks. Your probation officer and treatment center staff will provide weekly progress reports before each drug court session. Other means of supervision may be imposed as needed.

Parental Involvement

Your parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to attend drug court sessions with you, unless alternative arrangements are made. You are also required to follow all household rules, and your parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to report violations to your probation officer. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) may be sanctioned, including submitting to random drug testing or entering the program as a participant, if you continue to violate program rules.

Goals

As you enter this intensely supervised treatment program, you will need to be motivated to work toward changing your lifestyle and becoming free of alcohol and drug addiction.  Although the Drug Court Team will work with you to establish individual goals, the following are goals for every participant:

• • To learn to be alcohol and drug free
  • To learn better life coping skillsTo develop a non-criminal pattern of living
  • To attend school and/or obtain a GED
  • To attend 12-step support groups or similar programs approved by the court
  • To enhance self esteem and self motivation
  • To learn the warning signs of relapses and develop a relapse prevention plan

Program Costs

You may be required to pay all or partial costs for participation in drug court as set by the Juvenile Judge. You may also be required to pay for drug tests, especially positive tests, and you may be required to pay for alternative testing methods, such as saliva and blood, if you refuse to take required drug tests.

Any drug court participant with court related financial obligations, i.e., child support, restitution, fines, victim’s compensation fund, fees, court costs, etc., will make court approved payments on a regular schedule and provide documentation of the payments. Amounts and payment schedules are to be established by each participant’s probation officer and documented for the Juvenile Judge’s approval. If you cannot make a payment, then discuss your situation with your probation officer, and when possible, he or she may help you make other arrangements. Failure to make timely payments may slow down your progress into the next phase and/or your graduation from the program.

Participant Rules

Violations of the following rules will be reviewed by the Juvenile Judge, who may impose sanctions.

1.  The following actions will not be tolerated:

• • Use and/or possession of drugs or alcohol
  • Violence or threats of any kind
  • Belligerent behavior
  • Possession of any type of weapon
  • Inappropriate sexual behavior or harassment
  • Failure to notify staff of new charges or citations
  • Dishonesty
  • Violation of curfew
  • Truancy

2.   Appropriate clothing is expected at all times while inside the courtroom, in the probation office, and at the treatment centers.  You must wear a shirt or blouse, pants or skirt, and shoes.  Sunglasses will not be worn inside the courtroom, treatment center, or probation office.  No alcohol or drug-related logos may be worn on clothing.  No gang colors or gang clothing will be worn.

3.   You must attend all scheduled treatment groups, individual counseling sessions, court sessions, and any other court ordered services unless you obtain prior approval from your probation officer or the Juvenile Judge.  You must arrive on time and not leave until the treatment group or court session is over.  If you are late you may be denied access and/or you may be considered absent.

4.   You may not carry cellular phones or pagers to court or treatment groups.

5.   You are expected to maintain appropriate behavior at all times while in the courtroom, and while waiting in the lobby before and after drug court sessions or drug testing.  Please talk to the Juvenile Judge and the Drug Court Team with courtesy and respect.  There will be no talking while seated in the courtroom audience.  You will be permitted to show support and encouragement for fellow participants by applause, but only during appropriate times.  Your behavior and demeanor while in the courtroom is a reflection of the entire program.  Maintaining appropriate behavior is indicative of the progress you and your fellow participants a making toward recovery.

The Bannock County Juvenile Drug Court will comply with Idaho Code 16-1619 regarding the reporting of abuse or neglect of minors.  The program will also comply with Idaho Code 39-5303 regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect of adults.  Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under state law to appropriate state or local authorities.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment

You will be required to attend substance abuse treatment as a condition of drug court.  You may be required to attend group and individual counseling sessions where you will work on task to achieve goals in your individual treatment plan.

Your compliance and progress in drug and alcohol treatment are expected, and will be reviewed on a weekly basis by the Drug Court Team.  The following behaviors will be considered a failure to comply with treatment and may result in sanctions:

• • Lack of participation in treatment groups
  • Tardiness
  • Absences
  • Failure to comply with treatment plan and complete assignments
  • Violence and threats of violence

Program Phases

There are three phases of the drug court program. Participants will be required to attend drug court sessions each week during phase one, once every two weeks during phase two, and once every four weeks during phase three. Each phase will consist of at least five appearances, and no credit will be given during a week when there are violations.

During all three phases you will be required to attend assigned treatment groups, and be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing and home visits. You must also attend all scheduled meetings with your probation officer. Completion of each phase is based on your successful performance in the program. The Juvenile Judge can demote you to a lower phase, or extend your time in a phase, in response to rule violations or a lack of progress in the program

Sanctions

Each drug court participant must abide by the rules of the program.  Sanctions for noncompliance may include but are not limited to:

• • Warnings and admonishment from the bench in open court
  • Required community service or work programs
  • Change in curfew time
  • Increased frequency of drug testing, monitoring, and/or treatment
  • Demotion to a lower phase
  • Home detention and/or electronic monitor
  • Discretionary detention or jail time
  • Court fines
  • Termination from the program

Incentives

Incentives reward the participants for positive steps taken in attaining a drug and crime-free lifestyle. Incentives may include, but are not limited to, promotion to the next phase, certificates, acknowledgement from the bench in open court, and other rewards.

Random Drug and Alcohol Tests

Random drug and alcohol tests will play a significant role in your recovery.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you understand and comply with the testing guidelines.  If you do not feel that you fully understand, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification.

You are required to provide urine samples upon request.  Failure to provide a urine sample within five minutes may be considered a refusal to take a test.  You may be asked to submit to an alternative testing method, such as blood or saliva, upon your refusal to provide a urine sample, and you could be charged for the cost of the alternative test.  Drug court participants who test positive for drug use may also be charged for the cost of collecting their test. 

Members of the Drug Court Team may conduct random drug and alcohol tests at your job, school, home, during court, and at other locations.  Random testing may occur every day, and at any time of day.  You may also be asked to report to the probation office for drug testing.  Your probation officer must approve all travel arrangements that would make you unavailable for drug testing.

For your own protection, if you begin using any prescription or over-the-counter medications, you must present them to the Drug Court Team for viewing, approval and/or verification by the prescribing doctor.  Failure to comply with proper procedure or a positive test may result in sanctions by the Juvenile Judge.

Graduation

Participants who successfully complete phase three will be allowed to graduate from the program. Graduates will be honored at a special graduation ceremony where family and friends are welcome to attend. Graduates are advised to continue with their treatment after leaving the program, and they are encouraged to contact the Drug Court Team for assistance in the future. Participants who owe excessive probation fees may be prohibited from graduating until their fees are paid.

Essential Phone Numbers

Drug Testing Message Line – 208-236-0606, ext. 23
Drug Court Coordinator – 208-236-0606, ext. 34 
Juvenile Probation Officers – 208-234-1085 
Bannock County Prosecutor – 208-236-7280 
Bannock County Public Defender – 208-236-7040
Road to Recovery – 208-233-9135  
MK Place – 208-234-4722

Program Hours

Juvenile Drug Court sessions will be every Tuesday beginning at 4:00 p.m., unless otherwise scheduled.  The hours of operation for the drug court support staff are generally Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The offices are generally closed for the following holidays: