Drug Court

Drug court is a treatment court for addicted offenders.  Treatment courts are the most successful intervention in our nation’s history for leading people living with substance abuse and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability.  Drug courts improve education, employment, housing, and financial stability.  They promote family reunification, reduce foster care placements, and increase the rate of mothers with substance abuse disorders delivering drug-free babies.  

If admitted into the program, participants will undergo treatment and counseling, submit to frequent drug testing and make regular appearances before the judge.  Periodic advancements and incentives are provided to participants that are successfully progressing through the program.  The ultimate goal of the program is to help participants beat their addictions and become law-abiding citizens that contribute to the community and support their families.  Drug court provides offenders with the best chance of accomplishing those objectives.

• Benefits of the Program
• Program Requirements
• Eligibility
• Entrance Process
• Community Partners
• Hearings 
• Graduation
• Questions

Benefits of the Program

The most obvious benefit of the program is that participants will be given tools that will help them address their addiction issues so that they can be successful in society.  In addition, the jail time and fines on the drug court cases will be suspended upon entrance to drug court.  Upon successful completion of drug court, the fines and jail time will be waived.  Participants that exhibit mental health issues and/or trauma issues will receive treatment for those issues as a part of the program. Participants will also be encouraged and assisted in finding jobs, homes and education.

Program Requirements 

Each participant will be different and will have different needs.  All participants will be required to follow general drug court requirements, but additional services will be provided and required based upon the individual’s needs.  Participants will have a unique case plan that they will help create.

Successful drug court participants will be in the program between 14 and 24 months.  They will be required to attend intensive therapy and counseling.  They will be drug tested multiple times per week on a random basis.    Participants will meet with the drug court probation officer multiple times per week and will initially attend drug court hearings multiple times per month.  A curfew will be required for all of those beginning in drug court.  The curfew restrictions will be relaxed as the participants progress through the program.  Participants will be required to obtain employment and provide proof of a safe home environment.  Additional requirements are included in the Drug Court Policies and Procedures Manual.

Eligibility

Offenders that are facing sentencing hearings or hearings on motions to revoke probation or parole may apply to enter the program.  All participants must have legal status to be in the United States and to work in Kansas.  Applicants will be required to reside in the City of Liberal during the time that they are in drug court.  Applicants will be screened prior to entry into the program and must be considered high-risk for likelihood of reoffending and be in high need of treatment.  Applicants may not have convictions for drug distribution or violent offenses.  Additional requirements are included in the Drug Court Policies and Procedures Manual.

Entrance Process

Offenders that wish to apply for drug court may obtain an application from the court clerk’s office or the drug court probation officer.  Typically, an attorney will be appointed to assist with the application process and discuss the legal consequences of the drug court program.  After the application has been submitted, the applicant will be scheduled for risk and need assessments.  It is important that those assessments are completed in a timely manner.  Applications should be processed within 50 days of the submission of the application. 

Community Partners

Liberal Municipal Court has partnered with and receives assistance from multiple community partners.  Some of those are listed below:

• Liberal Police Department
• Southwest Guidance Center, Inc.
• City on a Hill, Inc.
• Seward County Community College
• New Chance, Inc.
• Seward County Sheriff

Hearings

Drug court is held at the municipal court at 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month.  Drug court will also be held on any fifth Thursdays.  Initially participants will be required to attend every scheduled drug court docket.  As participants advance through the program, less frequent attendance may be required.

Graduation

After participants complete all requirements of drug court, they will graduate.  A graduation ceremony will be commenced with proceedings similar to those of a high school or college graduation.  Participants will be celebrated for their accomplishment.  All jail time and fines will be waived at that time.

Questions 

The Drug Court Coordinator is Kim Clinkingbeard and the Drug Court Probation Officer is Gena Burnett.  Both are knowledgeable about the program and can either answer your questions or direct to the correct person to answer any questions that you might have.