The Honorable Angela J. Lasher recently announced that the 90th District Court was awarded $19,000 in grant funds to boost its sobriety court.
The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) offers several grant opportunities to Michigan’s trial courts to help fund problem-solving, therapeutic jurisprudence programs that deal with charges related to drugs, alcohol, and/or mental health.
The 90th District Court began operating a sobriety court in 2007. In 2017, the SCAO announced that specialty courts in Michigan would need to meet certain requirements to continue operating a treatment court. In June 2018, after a year-long certification process, the SCAO notified the 90th District Court that its sobriety court had met the requirements.
Having a status as a certified specialty court allows District Court staff to apply for grant funding. The $19,000 received by the 90th District Sobriety Court will be used to offset expenses that would otherwise be incurred by the participant.
The local sobriety court is a 24-month program available to those charged with a second drunk driving offense. Those participating must wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet for the first 90 days of the program. Participants are also drug-tested bi-weekly for the majority of the two-year program.
“The grant money allows us to supplement these costs, easing the financial burden for the participants,” reported District Court Administrator Amanda Miller. “We don’t want our program to be cost prohibitive for folks. This grant really helps that.”
Besides the early monitoring and testing, the intense treatment program includes enhanced supervision and counseling to assist those struggling with addiction. When the participants graduate from sobriety court, they are discharged successfully from probation, clean and sober.
“We average around 15 participants at any given time,” said Miller. “The primary focus is treatment and building a foundation of sobriety during the recovery program.”
Judge Lasher pointed out the program’s history of significantly decreasing recidivism as another important feature that affects other family members, friends, and employers, as well as the overall health and safety of everyone.
“Our sobriety court is a valuable treatment court that benefits the community,” said Judge Lasher. “Seeing firsthand how the program has helped to make a difference in the lives of our participants is a reminder that the court can bring about positive change and I am honored that I am able to witness those changes.”
