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General Information
Juvenile
offenders with a drug or alcohol related offense may be referred to Drug
Court directly from their disposition hearing. They are ordered into
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP or Juvenile TASC) may be referred to
Drug Court if they do not comply with the recommendation of their ASAP case
manager.Drug Court is partially funded through a Grant from the Community
Foundation of Greater Birmingham
All
referrals are reviewed for appropriateness by the Drug Court Team, which is
composed of the Referee/ Judge, the probation officers, the drug court
specialist, the deputy district, and the legal aide/ defense attorney. Drug
Court will not accept a client who may not respond well to the less
structured, lighter sanctioned ASAP program.
There
are four phases of the program. Phase I participants attend court weekly and
drug test weekly (Mondays or Tuesdays). Phase II participants attend court
bi-weekly and the frequency of their drug test is determined by a color code
system which they check by phone each day. Phase III participants attend
court monthly and are also on a color-coded drug test system. Phase IV
AFTERCARE participants attend court and leave drug tests after receiving a
letter or phone call from Drug Court Specialist, who determines the timing
and frequency of their involvement over a three month period.
One
of the key components of Drug Court that helps its effectiveness is the
increased level of Court Supervision. Compliance can be encouraged by the use
of praise or negative sanctions. During the juveniles' stay in Drug Court,
there are graduated sanctions for non-compliance, including but not limited
to additional time in Drug Court, weekend detention, week detention, residential
drug treatment, boot camp or referral to the Department of Youth Services.
Drug
Court has partnered with the Gun Court Parenting classes by requiring Drug
Court parents and juveniles to complete a 10 week curriculum that addresses a
variety of issues including drugs, violence and anger management. Instructors
for these classes are provided by community agencies, as well as, by Family
Court staff.
For
further information on the Jefferson County Family Court Drug Court Program
you may contact the following:
Andra
Sparks - Drug Court Judge
(205)
325-5465
Eric
Shepherd - Drug Court Specialist
(205)
325-5995
Daniel
Frank Sudd - Drug Court Probation Officer
(205) 481-4225
Address:
Jefferson County Family Court
120
2nd Ct. North, Birmingham AL 35204
Maps
& Directions:
·
Birmingham
Courthouse
·
Bessemer
Courthouse
Phone
Numbers:
Birmingham (205) 325-5491
Bessemer
(205) 481-4225
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