Dedication key to Sobriety Courts' success Participants pay for services on a sliding scale

By Roberta M. Gubbins Legal News Sobriety Courts are successful. Nationally, 75 percemt of the participants who complete the program are not re-arrested. In Ingham County, 54A and 55th District Court Sobriety Courts are beating that statistic. The dedication of the Sobriety Court Teams working in each court contributes to that success. Hon. Louise Alderson leads the 54A team, which includes representatives from the Lansing police department, defense attorneys, Ingham County Prosecutor, 54A probation and treatment providers. The program is open to non-violent defendants who have been convicted of repeated drinking and driving offenses and who live in the Lansing area. The treatment providers are Robert and Mana Davis of Prevention & Training Services (PATS) and Barbara Lawrence of Life Journeys in addition to the Sobriety Court staff, Robin Osterhaven, Coordinator, and Heather Duhoski, Probation Officer and Case Manager. PATS, said Bob Davis, "provides intensive outpatient treatment, alcohol education, assessments," as well as daily testing as ordered by the courts. The first three months require twice a week sessions with a therapist and four Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings a week. Successful individuals move on to Phase two, Creating Your Healthy Plan, where they meet with PATS once a week and continue the four AA weekly meetings for the next three months. The last six months, which ease back on treatment contact, are divided into Phase 3--Working Your Healthy Living Plan, and Phase 4--Giving Back, Preparation for Transition. After graduation, they enter the final phase called Living Your Plan, where they are required to meet with the probation officer and have a judicial review every three months, submit a monthly report, continue their twelve step meetings and have random alcohol/drug screening. "They are with us for about six months," said Mana. In addition to the group sessions, there are four required individual sessions spaced over the six months. Meeting with them one on one allows "us to make recommendations to the court if more information or changes in treatment are needed." As participants advance, the program becomes less intense and less expensive, which is a form of reward. Services are paid for by the clients or at least "they try to," said Mana. "There is a small grant that 54A has that helps pay for treatment," added Bob. However, the clients make payments on a sliding scale, based on their ability to pay. "They seem to do really well," said Mana. "I wouldn't want to give it to them for free, because I don't think they would take it as seriously. It (paying for services) gives them pride." Both Davis's believe that Sobriety Courts are successful because of the "high degree of accountability. There is contact with the judge and feedback is given quickly." Accomplishments are rewarded, while setbacks can lead to sanctions. "They start out with external motivation--at least it's not jail--but then they see a reward, it is a reinforcement that they really are doing the right thing. And it's the speed with which they get a response from the court system. It matters." Barbara Lawrence, therapist and owner of Life Journeys, agrees. She has been a treatment provider for 54A Sobriety Court since 2007. Lawrence offers both group and individual treatment. "Our primary focus is to get them past denial," Lawrence said. "They need to really look at their life and for some of them it is too much and they voluntarily leave the program." "Sobriety Court is a 24 month program," she said, "and once they have completed a year's treatment there is still time left for them to come back every three months for a check-up. That helps to keep things from spiraling out of control." "When they come to me they are multi-layered. Initially, they are in shock because they have been in jail and someone is talking to them about this 24-month program. For most of them, what they are really hearing is you are not going to be charged with a felony. If you follow through with this, things will be much rosier. I think it takes a while for the client to realize what they have signed up for." The sobriety court programs are structured on rewards and sanctions, both of which she believes are valuable. Also part of the team are Lt. David Nosotti, Police Representative, Randall Behrmann, attorney, Defense Representative and Mike Cheltenham, Assistant Prosecutor, Ingham County Prosecutor's office. Behrman, a local general practice lawyer, was also on the original team that went to New Mexico for training. He agrees with the treatment providers that "the speed of the rewards and sanctions" and the team approach helps account for success. Published: Tue, Sep 25, 2012

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