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Twenty-Seventh Judicial District Drug Court Program
Click here for the Annual Drug Court Report - 2003 (PDF file)
Purpose and Nature
The Twenty-Seventh Judicial District Drug Court Program serving Weakley and Obion counties of West Tennessee began operation in November of 2002. This post plea treatment program targets non-violent offenders suffering from severe substance abuse issues. Clients accepted into the program receive intensive treatment, intensive supervision, frequent drug screens, and continued judicial intervention.
Twenty-Seventh Judicial District Drug Court Program Mission
The mission of the Twenty-Seventh Judicial District is to reduce the crime rate by targeting and treating severe substance abusers within the 27th Judicial District.
Twenty-Seventh Judicial District Drug Court Program Goals
Goal 1: Reduce drug related crime in Weakley and Obion counties of rural West Tennessee.
Goal 2: Reduce drug dependency among drug court clients.
Goal 3: Increase financial responsibilities among drug court clients.
Goal 4: Enhance educational and employment attainment among drug court clients.
Goal 5: Provide a team approach to serving offenders with substance abuse issues.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process
To be eligible for Drug Court a defendant must:
* Be charged with or convicted of a non-violent criminal offense in the 27th Judicial District
* Have had no past conviction involving violence
* Have a substance abuse problem
* Be willing to accept the terms and conditions of the program
* Have transportation available
* Reside in the 27th Judicial District
* Not be acutely mentally ill or suicidal
Applications should be submitted immediately after arrest or indictment. If a defendant is accepted for the Drug Court Program and has not been indicted, he or she will proceed to the Circuit Court through criminal information. Persons who have already been convicted and sentenced are also eligible for the Drug Court Program.
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Drug Court Team
Judge William B. Acree, Circuit Court Judge
27th Judicial District
Phone: 731-884-2667
E-mail: billacree@yahoo.com
Judge Thomas L. Moore, Jr. General Session Judge
27th Judicial District
Phone: 731-364-2003
E-mail: judgemo@aeneas.net
Veronica Thornton, Coordinator, 27th Judicial District Drug Court Program
Phone: 731-885-3411
E-mail: WSCN1@charter.net
Tommy A. Thomas, District Attorney General Obion and Weakley Counties
Phone: 731-364-5513 or 731-884-2610
E-mail: tthomas@tndage.com
Joseph P. Atnip, Public Defender
Phone: 731-364-2312
E-mail: JOE.ATNIP@state.tn.us
Colin Johnson, Assistant Public Defender
Phone: 731-364-2312
E-mail: colin@crunet.com
Sue Cochran, Case Manager
Phone: 731-885-3411
Rob Hammond, MIS Evaluation/Data Collection
Phone: 731-885-3411
Deborah J. Gibson, Ph.D., MIS Evaluation/Data Collection
Phone: 731-881-7321
E-mail: Gibson@utm.edu
Jerry Vasbinder, Obion County Sheriff
Phone: 731-885-5832
E-mail: sheriff@obioncountysheriff.com
Michael Wilson, Weakley County Sheriff
Phone: 731-364-5454
E-mail: wilson11@frontiernet.net
Johnny Welch, Ph.D. Treatment Provider, Carey Counseling
Phone: 731-885-8810
E-mail: johnniewelch@msn.com
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The Application Procedure is as follows:
* Submission of written application to the District Attorney General
* Defendant's attorney must assist in the preparation of the application.
* Interview by probation officer
* Approval or rejection by the Drug Court Program Team
* If approved, appearance in Circuit Court for guilty plea (if not previously convicted and sentenced).
* A written contract will be signed by the defendant, the attorney and the Court.
Treatment and Supervision
Treatment
Treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment designed to identify the presence and extent of a substance abuse disorder, mental status, motivation, strengths and weaknesses, and general appropriateness for treatment of an application.
If accepted by the Drug Court Program Team, the defendant will begin the program and will attend counseling four days per week. Defendants complete each phase of program by achieving certain treatment goals including abstinence, employment, attendance and compliance with group and supervision goals. Defendants spend less time in counseling with each successive phase. All treatment is individually tailored to address the person's addictive and criminal behavior.
Supervision
Defendants in the Drug Court Program will:
* Be subject to curfew restriction and/or electronic monitoring and will be seen at home by a case officer and/or law enforcement officers at least once per week. (Less frequent for Phase II and Phase III)
* Report to case officer twice per week (Less often for Phase II and Phase III)
* Complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service work
* Obtain and maintain employment
* Make regular payments toward fines, court costs, restitution and supervision fees
* Be subject to random drug screening in addition to being screened by the treatment provider
Court Sessions
The Drug Court will meet on Thursday at the Weakley County Detention Center and on Fridays at the Obion County Detention Center. Defendants in the program appear in Court as directed by the Court.
Incentives and Sanctions
Incentives will be given to those who successfully complete various steps in the program. Sanctions will be imposed upon those who violate the terms of treatment and probation. The severity of the sanctions will depend upon the type of violation and the number of prior violations. The most severe sanction will be expulsion from the Drug Court Program, which will require a sentence to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
Completion of Program
Those persons who successfully complete the program will be placed on probation which shall be supervised or unsupervised which is in the discretion of the Court.
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