Download Table of Contents - Harris County District Courts

HARRIS COUNTY
DRUG COURT
-1PARTICIPANT
HANDBOOK
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Program Goals
4
Program Benefits
5
Duties and Responsibilities
6
Court/Judge Supervision
8
Services Provided
9
Incentives and Sanctions
11
Phases
12
Graduation
16
Aftercare
17
Important Phone Numbers
18
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Introduction to the Harris County
S.T.A.R. Program
The Harris County’s Drug Court Program—Success
Through Addiction Recovery (S.T.A.R.)—assists nonviolent offenders in overcoming serious drug
addictions.
This handbook provides important information about
the S.T.A.R. Program and what is expected of its
participants. We encourage you to share this handbook
with family and friends for their support and
encouragement.
The Harris County S.T.A.R. assists you in making
positive changes in your life. Through dedication to
program rules and commitment to a positive attitude,
you can achieve a clean and sober life.
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S.T.A.R. Program Goals
The S.T.A.R. Program uses a variety of treatment and
rehabilitation methods in offering participants the
opportunity to conquer drug addiction.
Participants receive intensive substance treatment with
the aid of innovative court supervision and community
support services.
S.T.A.R. also allows participants to achieve
educational, employment, and social goals. Participants
will become productive members of the community
By treating the addiction, there is a greater likelihood
that offenders will remain drug-free and avoid further
contacts with the criminal justice system.
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Program Benefits
When you successfully complete the S.T.A.R. Program,
you will obtain the following rewards:
 You will be clean and sober.
 You will have more job and educational
opportunities.
 You will have better relationships with family and
friends
 You will have a better understand of yourself
 You will have a positive outlook on life.
 You will be a contributing member of your
community.
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Duties and Responsibilities
While under the supervision of the S.T.A.R. Program,
you will be responsible for adhering to all duties and
responsibilities listed in your contract. The following
are essential to your success with the Harris County
Drug Court.
1. You are forbidden to use, possess, or consume any
controlled substance, dangerous drug, marijuana,
alcohol or prescription drug not specifically
prescribed to you by lawful prescription. You are
forbidden to use, consume, or possess alcoholic
beverages.
2. You must attend all court sessions as ordered.
3. You must submit to any medical, psychological,
psychiatric, educational, vocational, alcohol or
other drug treatment program, including residential
treatment, as directed by the Drug Court.
4. You must obey all laws; you may be removed from
the Drug Court program if you engage in any
criminal act.
5. You must submit to urinalysis or drug testing upon
request of the Drug Court.
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Duties and Responsibilities
6. You must keep appointments and be on time as
required by the Drug Court.
7. You must exhibit courtroom behavior and obey
courtroom rules.
8. You may not leave Texas or the county in which
you reside without written permission from the
Drug Court.
9. You must contact the Drug Court regarding any
change in address, telephone number, or
employment.
10. You must agree to pay all fines, court costs,
treatment fees, restitution costs, victim
compensation, attorney fee, mental health
assessment fee, and laboratory fee as order by the
Drug Court.
11. You may not own possess, or carry any type of
weapon, including firearms.
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Court/Judge Supervision
The S.T.A.R. Program uses two post-plea courts to
serve the varied needs of its participants. Judge
Wilkinson’s S.T.A.R. I is a docket for defendants
who have previously completed a therapeutic
treatment program. Judge Cosper’s S.T.A.R. II
docket serves offenders who have never participated
in long-term treatment.
You are required to attend your S.T.A.R. Program
docket to discuss and review your progress. You will
meet with the judge and your case manager to create
treatment goals.
The drug court team (judge, prosecutor, defense
attorney, program and case managers, and social
services consultants) meets prior to each status
hearing. They discuss and evaluate your progress as
dictated by your treatment goals.
Your case manager also will conduct field visits.
Visitation frequency is based on your progress,
adjustment to treatment, and ability to comply with
the court’s requirements.
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Services Provided
The S.T.A.R. Program offers a variety of services to
enhance your success, including:
 Substance Abuse Treatment Services
o S.T.A.R. contracts with drug treatment
providers to provide the most qualified services
available.
o Both residential and outpatient services are
available to serve your needs.
 Professional Therapy and/or Peer Counseling
o S.T.A.R. provides reliable medical and mental
health care for clients through local services.
o Clients can choose from over 2,000 preapproved community support groups.
 Drug Testing
o You will undergo random urinalyses ranging
from 5 times a week to monthly.
o The frequency of testing decreases with
treatment progress.
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Services Provided
(Continued)
 Information System
o S.T.A.R. uses a secure Management
Information System to collect over 800 data
element that monitor your individual progress
and achievement of goals.
 Educational Services
o Several local colleges and universities offer
literacy programs, educational seminars, and
GED tutoring.
o The Texas Rehabilitation Commission provides
certification programs in computer technology,
truck driving, and medical assistance.
 Employment Services
o Employment specialists provide you with job
skills training, job coaching, on-the-job training,
career goals setting, resume writing, and
assistance with transportation and childcare.
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Incentives and Sanctions
S.T.A.R. employs a graduated continuum of incentives
and sanctions to manage client behavior. Weekly
meetings allow the drug court to immediately address
any violations to the program. The court will publicly
acknowledge success and reward accomplishments or
issue immediate sanctions to address poor behavior.
Incentives encourage:
 Abstinence
 Attendance
 Employment
 Education
 Positive relationships
with family and
friends
 Meaningful
participation in
therapeutic activities
 Promotion through
the program phases
Sanctions address:
 Failed drug tests
results or tampering
with drug tests
 Missed court, case
manager, and
urinalysis
appointments
 Disruptive behavior
 Absconding
 New criminal
offenses
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Drug Testing Procedures
Upon entering the STAR program, you will be assigned
a UA color. If you are attending outpatient substance
abuse treatment, you will be given a laminated card
with the UA line phone number. The color of the card
will correspond will your UA color.
You will be responsible for calling the UA phone line
EVERYDAY to determine whether your assigned color
was selected for testing that day. If so, you must appear
at 49 San Jacinto. Testing hours are between 7:00am—
6:30pm Monday-Friday and 7:30am—11:30am on
Saturdays. If you reside in the Baytown area, with
pre-approval, you may be assigned to test at the East
Region Office.
Failure to test on your assigned day will result in
sanctions, including possible jail time.
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Phases of the S.T.A.R. Program
S.T.A.R. is a three-phase program. Each phase requires
the successful completion of a variety of activities. The
entire program lasts a minimum of twelve months.
Phases can be longer depending on poor behavior and
failed drug tests.
The court rewards progression through the phases.
Each successive phase requires a lower frequency of
attendance to assigned program meetings, urinalyses,
and court dates. These rewards are built in incentives
to encourage participants’ successful progression
through the program.
All phases include the following:
 Substance Abuse Treatment
 Regular court appearances with judicial
interaction
 Drug Testing
 12-Step or other approved support group
meetings
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Phases of the S.T.A.R. Program
(Continued)
Phase I
 Minimum of 10 weeks
 Appear in court once a week
 Attend at least one hour of individual counseling
per month
 Attend a minimum of 12 hours of group counseling
per week
 Attend at least two12-step programs or preapproved support groups per week
 Select a community sponsor and a family member
willing to participate in a support group
 Develop goals and strategies plan with case
manager
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Phases of the S.T.A.R. Program
(Continued)
Phase II
 Minimum of 16 weeks
 Appear in court biweekly
 Attend a minimum of 5 hours of group counseling
per week
 Attend at least three 12-step program or preapproved support groups per week
 Discuss educational and vocation goals with case
manager
 Update goals and strategies plan
 Attend any additional treatment groups deemed
necessary by the drug court
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Phases of the S.T.A.R. Program
(Continued)
Phase III
 Minimum of 26 weeks
 Appear in court once a month
 Attend a minimum of 2 hours of group counseling
per week
 Attend at least three 12-step program or preapproved support groups per week
 Discuss aftercare plans with treatment provider
 Complete goals and strategies plan
 Attend any additional treatment groups deemed
necessary by the drug court
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Graduation
Graduates have their cases disposed of on a case-bycase basis by the S.T.A.R. program judges in one of the
following ways: dismissal of charges, early termination
of probation, or continuation of probation until
termination.
You will graduate from S.T.A.R. after successfully
completing the following:
 Fulfilling all program requirements to the
satisfaction of the court
 Remaining sober for the final six months of the
program
 Attaining educational and/or employment status that
supports sobriety and law abiding behavior
 Completing a successful discharge from the
treatment
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Aftercare
The S.T.A.R. Program requires that participants
maintain contact with the drug court after graduation.
Graduates must report to their case manager once a
month for no less than a year.
Graduates from S.T.A.R. must submit to random
urinalysis during aftercare and attend at least two preapproved support groups a week.
Aftercare usually lasts between 18 and 24 months.
Treatment providers offer a variety of counseling and
group services for at least 12 months after program
completion and many offer services indefinitely.
Graduates may engage in alumni association with the
S.T.A.R. program. This allows graduates to become
mentors for future S.T.A.R. clients. Participating in
such endeavors indicates that graduates are becoming
successful and productive members of the community.
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Important Phone Numbers
STAR UA Line_____________(713) 368-3942
Mary Covington & Laura McCarty
Program Manager
Phone______________ (713) 755-4610
Fax________________ (713) 368-3941
STAR I
Case Manager _______________ (713) 755-2254
STAR II
Case Manager _______________ (713) 755-2596
STAR III
Case Manager________________ (713) 755-2154
STAR IV
Case Manager________________(713) 755-2544
Aftercare Case Manager_______ (713) 755-2155
Raymie Hairell-Sweat
Supervisor___________________ (713) 755-4523
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