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Treatment Court of Sweetwater County identifies justice-involved individuals with characteristics of which TCSC team determines appropriate to participate in the TCSC program. The eligibility is determined by age (18 or above), risk level, readiness to change, treatment recommendation level and applicant history. TCSC applicants with a high risk/ high needs based on the Center for Court Innovation: Criminal Court Assessment Tool are eligible for acceptance. In addition, an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level of 2.1 or above is preferred and a substance abuse disorder utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM)
Applicants will be considered of whom have a history of substance abuse, a diagnosis of substance abuse, a history of convictions involving drugs and/or alcohol use, individuals facing probation revocations for continued use of impairing substances, individuals involved with the Department of Family Services, individuals that have plead guilty, currently monitored on supervised probation, absent of violent convictions, no previous sexual convictions and the applicant must voluntarily agree to participate in the program.
TCSC will accept individuals with serious mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and medical conditions and shall not discriminate based on any individual’s race, ethnicity, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, sexual identity, physical or mental disability, religion, drug of choice, or socioeconomic status. Exclusion of a person with serious mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and medical conditions is documented with sound reasoning, which shall not conflict with the American Disabilities Act or the Olmstead decision (119 S.Ct. 2176).
Eligibility and Disqualification Criteria
Eligibility criteria for Treatment Court of Sweetwater County ensures consistency in selecting participants and avoids widening the net for unqualified candidates or narrowing it to exclude qualified candidates. TCSC will ensure that all program participants are eligible to participate in the program as defined by W.S.S 7-13-1607(a) and (b), which states:
The eligibility criteria for Treatment Court of Sweetwater County are as follows:
Applicants must be residents of Sweetwater County; Applicants must meet criteria in Wyoming Stat §7-13-1607; Applicants must be diagnosed with a substance use disorder; Applicants are ineligible if they have been convicted of a sex offense crime; Applicants are ineligible if their current charge is a crime of violence against another person, resulting in serious bodily injury or death or committed with the intent of causing serious injury or death OR used a firearm or other dangerous weapon in the commission of the offense; Applicants are ineligible if they have a history of more than one violent felony offenses involving the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon or caused serious bodily injury or death to another person; Applicants must meet target population criteria as determined by an ASI assessment no older than 90 days and a risk score of moderate to high as determined by a validated risk assessment tool. This program currently utilizes the Criminal Court Assessment Tool (C-CAT).
The Court Supervised Treatment Program embraces diversity and provides a supportive atmosphere for ALL of our participants. We will not deny service or discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, handicap or age in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 USC 2000d, Title XI of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 USC 1681 – 1686 and x.504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1990, as amended, 42 USC 12101-12212 [Section 6, (1) (E)].
The Treatment Court of Sweetwater County will allow access to the program by persons receiving Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) and shall facilitate MAT services where available and appropriate for a participant.
Eligibility factors that may exclude a defendant from participation:
Crimes of violence. (See below for definition of a violence offense); Classified as a registered sex offender or convicted of sexual crimes.
A violent offender by definition for the purpose of Treatment Court placement describes a person who either; Is charged with or convicted of an offense during the course of which; The person carried, possessed, or used a firearm or another dangerous weapon.
There occurred the use of force against the person of another; There occurred the death of, or serious bodily injury to, any person, without regard to whether any of the circumstances described above is an element of the offense or conduct of which or for which the person is charged or convicted; Has one or more prior convictions of a felony crime of violence involving the use of or attempted use of force against a person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm.
Criminal history disqualifications, current or prior offenses may disqualify candidates from participation in TCSC if empirical evidence demonstrates offenders with such records cannot be managed safely or effectively in TCSC program. Barring legal prohibitions, offenders charged with substance delivery or those with violence histories are not excluded automatically from participation in TCSC and individuals will be accepted on a case by case basis (National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, Volume I, Section (D)). TCSC shall accept individuals with serious mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and medical conditions. Exclusion of a person with serious mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and medical conditions shall be documented with sound reasoning, and shall not conflict with the American Disabilities Act or the Olmstead decision (119 S.Ct. 2176). TCSC shall not discriminate based on any individual’s race, ethnicity, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, sexual identity, physical or mental disability, religion, drug of choice, or socioeconomic status in determining eligibility to participate in the program.
APPLICANTS must meet the following eligibility requirements:
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The participant must have plead guilty; The participant must submit to a substance abuse evaluation; The participant is monitored by supervised probation; The participant cannot be accused of a violent felony; The prosecuting and defense attorneys must agree to allow participation; The participant must consent to participate in the treatment court program; The treatment court program team must agree to admit the participant; A current Addiction Severity Index (ASI) resulting in a treatment recommendation level of a 2.1 or above preferred.
The client’s participation of a final written consent of the order of the sentencing judge and in accordance with the written agreement between the participant and program team W.S.§7-13-1607 (c).
Applicants may be disqualified for the following:
Unresolved charges in other jurisdictions; Under supervision out of other jurisdictions; Felony drug manufacturing; Felony drug trafficking; Violent crimes; Classified as a registered sex offender or convicted of sexual crimes
Factors not contributing to eligibility:
Race, Gender, Sexual orientation, religious affliction, creed, OR national origin. Treatment Court of Sweetwater County is a culturally inclusive program.
Entry Process
This is the process by which the treatment court program moves offenders from arrest to treatment/program entry.
It is the policy of the Treatment Court of Sweetwater County to maintain clearly written admission criteria. In addition, if an individual is found to be ineligible for services, then she/he will be informed by letter.
Individuals applying for program admission, or referred to the program for admission, will begin the screening process within ten days of the request, The specific components of the screening process are as follows:
A program application will be provided to the individual; Once the completed application is received, the Program Director will meet with the individual to conduct an initial screening, explain the program in detail to the applicant and answer any questions; An ASI will be completed by a treatment provider of the applicant’s choice. If the individual has already had an ASI completed in the prior 90 days, a release of information will be obtained from the individual; A criminal background history and any collateral information will be obtained from program team members, applicant’s prosecuting attorney and defense attorney; A validated risk/needs assessment will be completed; Any other pertinent evaluations or collateral information will be obtained.; The program team will review the above records to determine eligibility at the next available staffing; Once approved for admission by both the program staff and the referring Court, the individual will be advised of their eligible status and can only be admitted if ordered by the court system on his/her underlying criminal charge(s); Persons under the age of 18 will not be admitted to services; The Court Supervised Treatment Program will align with and not contradict or supersede generalized judicial statutes legislated and determined by the State; Referrals to Treatment Court of Sweetwater County may be made by a judicial officer, treatment court coordinator, prosecuting attorney, public defender, defense attorney, law enforcement, treatment provider and applicant or probation agent. These individuals may refer a candidate to TCSC for screening and determination of acceptance.
Admission to TCSC
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Individuals requesting admission to the TCSC program will be required to complete an application, risk assessment and interview with the coordinator or case manager. The interview process consist of dual process to include completed application submission and an interview with the coordinator or case manager of TCSC. Applicant must cooperate with the admissions committee of the TCSC program. Following the application and interview, a date will be provided to the applicant and referring party of the staffing date. “Staffing” refers to the gathering and collaboration of the TCSC team reviewing the submitted application, charging documents involved in the case, risk assessment level and criminal history to determine acceptance. Following the decision of the TCSC team, a letter notifying the sentencing judge, applicant and all agencies involved of the acceptance or denial of the participant. Releases of information are signed by the applicant at the time of the interview to ensure confidentiality during this process.
If the applicant is accepted by the TCSC team and in pre-adjudication phase, the applicant’s final acceptance into the program with be determined by the sentencing judge.
Upon sentencing, the participant will attend orientation at the treatment court office where the participant will sign the TCSC contract, provide treatment team contact information, initial case management services, develop a case management plan, address housing and transportation needs and agree and sign the Reconnect (GPS/communication app) contract and Reconnect installed on the participant’s personal telephone. Participants are provided program expectations, privacy practices, court dates, participant handbook, detailed dates and directives for beginning the program as soon as possible.