Sobriety court in Michigan sets high standard

By Megan Schmidt The Holland Sentinel HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Holland District Court is about to become a training ground. The court's sobriety treatment program is one of four nationwide that will serve as a model training site and research platform for other drug courts across the country for the next three years. The 58th District Court was chosen by the National Center for DWI Courts for its "exemplary sobriety court practices," according to a statement from the court. The honor is a testament to the hard work and time put in by both the participants and the team of judges, attorneys and case workers who run it, Judge Susan Jonas said. It also is a chance to help other courts develop their own sobriety programs, she said. "We want to share what we've learned with other people, and I think we'll be able to learn from some of them as well," she said. A sobriety court is a four-phase intervention program for repeat offenders of drug and alcohol violations -- people identified as having difficulty staying sober. A team of attorneys, case managers and treatment providers give guidance and supervision to the participant, who is subject to random drug testing and home visits. Participants also must complete counseling and appear for a bi-weekly hearing with the judge, where progress can be assessed. And participants do report progress, Judge Bradley Knoll said. Some tell him they never have been sober for more than a month, maybe even a few weeks or days -- until now. "For some of them, it's an entirely new lifestyle we're introducing to them," he said. Some continue to stay in touch after they finish the program, too. One graduate contacted Jonas to let her know he had been accepted to college, she said. Holland District Court's sobriety treatment program began in 2004. Since then, almost 80 people have graduated. Research on sobriety court programs has shown that those who complete such a program are 19 times less likely to re-offend by committing a similar violation than those who are sentenced to regular probation. Published: Mon, Feb 14, 2011

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