A new drug treatment process through Carson City's court system will begin with its first hearing July 2 at the Carson City Courthouse. The goal is to send addicts, especially those who are young, to substance abuse rehabilitation and counseling programs.
Municipal Court Judge and Justice of the Peace Thomas Armstrong is the leading force in creating the new program with the collaboration of the Carson City law enforcement and court community.
Among the backers are Carson City District Attorney Jason Woodbury, Karin L. Kreizenbeck, State of Nevada Public Defender, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, Chief Tad N. Fletcher, Department of Alternative Sentencing, and Mary Bryan, Director of the Community Counseling Center.
All of the agencies have either personally participated in the planning meetings or have dedicated a representative, said Carson City Court Administrator Max Cortes.
“I thank each one of you for your commitment to this program," said Judge Armstrong. "This is a team effort, and I am excited to provide a catalyst that will help young adults change their lives and stop the cycle of addiction. This will save lives and make Carson City safer.”
Since taking the bench in May 2011, Armstrong has identified the significant need for a treatment court focused on young, addicted misdemeanor offenders. He developed the Misdemeanor Treatment Court as a comprehensive treatment program for defendants whose untreated addiction to substances contributes to their criminal conduct
The Misdemeanor Treatment Court was established using the “10 Key Components” as guiding principles, developed over time since the first drug court was established in Florida in 1999.
Judge Armstrong, in conjunction with representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, defense attorneys, probation, and treatment professionals, will develop a plan that addresses the safety of the community and the treatment needs of each defendant, specifically targeting 18 to 25 year old addicted offenders.
The participant will be required to attend court regularly, participate in substance abuse treatment and counseling, and randomly drug tested. Further, the offender will be provided with assistance to obtain employment or educational opportunities.
“The criminal justice community is evolving from a "one size fits all" model," said District Attorney Woodbury. "Judge Armstrong's Misdemeanor Treatment Court provides law enforcement an alternative for early intervention in the life of a substance abuser.
The Court is not designed to be the right answer in every case, but for some offenders, it will be an invaluable opportunity for comprehensive treatment under intensive supervision. The payoff for the community is disruption of the addiction-substance abuse-crime cycle.”