Problem Solving Courts Bench Bar Conference Double Tree Hotel April 20, rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas – Berks County

Court Team Judge Coordinator District Attorney Public Defender Probation Treatment Case Manager Pre-Trial Services Domestic Relations CYS Employment Recovery Manager

Berks Courts Currently 4 Courts DUI Drug Mental Health Veterans

Berks Courts Intensive Probation & Judicial Supervision Bi-weekly contact between Team Members via Status Meetings, , phone. Attendance at Treatment Take pre-scribed medication Weekly breath/urine Drug & Alcohol Testing Multiple 12 Step meetings every week Pre-Plea & Post-Sentence

Application Application can be found on DA Website, or can be sent to you Must apply within 21 days of Preliminary Hearing Report to Berks Connections Pre-Trial Services upon filing application Will be directed to TASC for D&A Eval Team will make a decision within days

Eligibility Criteria Legal: Criminal offense(s) incurred must have been motivated by a desire to support a drug dependence or occurred as a result of psychiatric symptoms. The defendant, arresting officer, defendant’s family or friend(s), attorney or probation officer can indicate the defendant’s substance abuse or a mental health disorder Intermediate Punishment Statute is used as a guideline for excluding factors. Sentencing Guidelines Rule §303.12(a) as well as 37 Pa.Code §451.1, 42 Pa.C.S. §9763, §9773 and Chapter 98, and 204 Pa.Code §303.8 and §303.9 Participant must be a Berks County resident

Eligibility Criteria Diagnostic: Eligible Treatment Court participants must be determined to have a substance abuse disorder, a mental health disorder, or both according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR).

Drug & Mental Health Treatment Courts Established January 3 rd, 2005

Conditions for All Phases Maintain abstinence from alcohol and non-prescribed mood altering substances Regular appearances in Treatment Court Random home visits by APO with participants Regular contact with APO as directed Regular attendance & participation in 12-step meetings Comply with medication regiment as directed by prescribing physician Regular contact with Case Manager 2 times per week urinalysis/breathalyzer testing

Phase 1 (3-6 months) Phase 1 begins after the Court accepts the client into Treatment Court. This phase is designed to establish abstinence, medical and/or psychiatric stabilization and provide acute treatment, case management and supervision. Advancement from Phase 1 to Phase 2 can only occur after the participant has been in the program for a minimum of three (3) months, has completed all requirements successfully and has tested negative with no failure to test for at least thirty days prior to phase advancement.

Phase 2 (3-6 months) Phase 2 is designed to further recovery and demonstrate positive, productive lifestyle changes. Advancement from Phase 2 to Phase 3 can only occur after the participant has been in Phase 2 for a minimum of three (3) months, has completed all requirements successfully and has tested negative with no failure to test for at least forty-five (45) days prior to Advancement.

Phase 3 (3-6 Months) Phase 3 is designed to solidify skills learned in the first two phases. Advancement from Phase 3 to Phase 4 can only occur after the participant has been in Phase 3 for a minimum of two (3) months, has completed all requirements successfully and has tested negative with no failure to test for at least sixty (60) days prior to phase advancement

Phase 4 (3-6 Months) Phase 4 is designed to validate the participants’ progress and empower participants to grow in their recovery while decreasing their number of contacts with the Treatment Court Team In this Phase, participants will focus on transitioning from Treatment Court to their own recovery support systems Advancement from Phase 4 to Commencement can only occur after the participant has been in the Phase a minimum of three (3) months, completed all Phase requirements, tested negative on all urinalysis with no failure to test

Benefits to Participation Currently on Supervision If incarcerated Release with appropriate home plan New charges pending – Probation sentence can be expected If not incarcerated but with a violation imminent No arrest New charges pending – Probation sentence can be expected

Benefits to Participation Pre-trial Probation sentence or 118 Disposition may be expected If jail time is mandatory a reduced sentence may be expected

Benefits to Participation Personal Benefits may include: Recovery from Chemical Dependency and/or Mental Health symptoms No further involvement with the Criminal Justice System Employment Improved Relationships with Family and Friends Improved Health Benefits to Society Reduction in Crime Increase in Productive Members Reduction in use of Social Services System Reduction in Health Care Utilization

Veterans Treatment Court Track – Established Dec 2010 Court – Established January 10 th, 2012

Program Consists of 4 Phases Approximately 16 months in length

Phase 1 30 days Bi-Monthly Court Hearings 1 x week APO Contacts 2 x week Breathalyzer/Urines Meet with VJO to begin Assessments and start Treatment Meet with Mentor Coordinator

Phase 2 90 days Bi-Monthly Court Hearings 1 x week APO Contacts 2 x week Breathalyzer/Urines Attend Treatment & other Groups 12 Step meetings if appropriate Mentor Assigned

Phase days Bi-Monthly Court Hearings 2 x month APO Contacts 2 x week Breathalyzer/Urines Attend Treatment & other Groups 12 Step meetings if appropriate Start Community Service Work Employment

Phase days Monthly Court Hearings 1 x month APO Contacts 1 x week Breathalyzer/Urines 12 Step meetings if appropriate Complete Community Service Work Employment

Veteran Mentors

Mentor Program Mission The mission of the Veteran Mentor Program is to ensure that every veteran engaged in the Berks County Veterans Treatment Court receives support, guidance, advocacy and access to local resources through the help of a trained fellow veteran, who is serving as a volunteer mentor to assist the participating veteran reach his/her fullest potential. **Veterans helping veterans**

Mentor Duties and Responsibilities Attend court sessions, when available, with a minimum of 3 sessions annually Be an attentive listener and support assigned VTC participant Assist assigned VTC participant with accessing local resources, when applicable Assist VTC participant with accessing Veterans Affairs System, when needed Be available by telephone, and in-person during reasonable hours/days (Mentor will establish availability with Mentor Coordinator prior to assignment) Report any concerns for VTC participant’s wellbeing/safety to Mentor Coordinator immediately