Updated April 15, 2021
Innovations
Treatment courts across the country are adapting to COVID-19 guidance and restrictions in creative ways. Browse the categories below to read how courts are adopting these creative measures and download the materials they use to implement them (if available).
All documents used with permission and available for use by any treatment court.
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Participant Resource Guide
The court assembled a resource guide for participants to help them navigate disruptions to their everyday life. The guide contains a daily quarantine report encouraging participants to map out and schedule their day, as well as a list of approved activities to maintain wellness.
Download participant resource guide
From: Hennepin County Treatment Court
Recovery Challenge Form
With the suspension of all urine screens, probation office visits, home visits, court, and treatment (with the exception of recently starting Zoom calls), the court created this form based on the START Program. Points are given for Zoom MRT meetings and by remaining engaged in treatment, with probation officers, and with peers. The court aims to incentivize good behavior with tangible awards by taking it into consideration when we get back to court. If clients choose not to participate, the coordinator and probation officer still conducts phone calls with participants.
Download the Fairfax Recovery Challenge Form
From: Fairfax County Drug Court; Fairfax, Virginia
Pandemic Days Activity Book
The program developed an engagement activity book. Participants receive individual bound copies from the office.
Download the Douglas County Pandemic Days Activity Book
From: Douglas County Specialty Court; Roseburg, Oregon
Online Book Club
To keep participants engaged, one of the program's treatment providers is trying to start an online book club.
From: 39th Circuit Treatment Court; Galena, Missouri
Virtual Yoga Through Zoom and/or Conference Call
From: South St. Louis County DWI Court; Duluth, Minnesota
From: STEER Court; Billings, Montana
Social Distance Powwows
The court and tribe are encouraging social distance powwows online via Facebook to stay connected and engaged with their culture and support systems during isolation.
From: Tulalip Healing to Wellness Court; Tulalip, Washington
Virtual Graduation
Online graduation in Norman, Oklahoma
Online graduation in Elyria, Ohio
Kudoboard
Creating virtual praise for graduates and phase promotions
Court-Provided Phones
Court secured a two-month contract to provide Corrisoft phones to participants in all treatment courts. The phones allow for GPS self check-in, two-way text and video communication, and mass communication to all participants.
From: St. Charles County Drug Court; St. Charles, Missouri
Government-assisted Phone Service
Treatment providers are connecting with clients using phones from the federal government's Lifeline Program. The program provides free phone service to any Medicaid or food-assistance user. The court uses the provider Q Link, which provides phones for $25 and ships within 5-10 days.
- Idaho Treatment Courts
Free Classes
The court is working with local yoga, meditation, boot camp, and other fitness instructors in the community, as well as art instructors, GED instructors, and someone to help work on DMV testing to provide free classes available through Zoom. Each participant receives five hours of these activities in place of community service.
From: Smyth County Recovery Court; Marion, Virginia
Writing to Nursing Homes
From: Idaho Treatment Courts
Virtual Volunteering Program
The court is encouraging participants to come up with their own creative ways to volunteer in the community while social distancing. Participants received an idea guide and a flyer encouraging participation in the optional program.
Download the Virtual Volunteering Program idea guide
Download the Virtual Volunteering Program flyer
From: South St. Louis County DUI Court; Duluth, Minnesota
Virtual Recovery Meetings
Participants can receive up to a maximum of five community service hours per week for attending online support groups.
From: 39th Circuit Treatment Court; Galena, Missouri
Virtual Graduation
Court is holding its graduation via Zoom platform, allowing graduates to be recognized and hear from speakers while remaining physically distant.
From: Cleveland County Adult Drug Court; Norman, Oklahoma
Drive-Through Graduation
Court transitioned its graduation to a drive-through event in the courthouse parking lot, complete with balloons, noisemakers, and a socially distant cheering section. Participants received a plaque, a medal of accomplishment, and words of encouragement from the treatment court team, just as they would in a normal graduation.
STAR Drug Court; Houston, Texas
Recovery Challenge
A list of incentivized activities to participate in while the court is impacted by COVID-19. Identifies appropriate participation/behaviors by category and offers an incentive ($5 incentive card or waved fee).
Download START Court Recovery Challenge form
From: Multonomah County Drug Court; Portland, Oregon
Waving Supervision Fees
For every week clients fill out their activity workbook, remain in contact with treatment and probation, and have their assignments completed, probation waves $5 of supervision fees a week. When court resumes the judge will review and approve the fee wavers.
Download the Douglas County Pandemic Days Activity Book
From: Douglas County Specialty Court; Roseburg, Oregon
Mailing Incentive Packages
Probation officers are mailing incentive packages to drug court participants for their proximal and distal achievements while court remains closed. The packages include activity books, printed sheets for outdoor exercises and indoor meditation, simple recipes, motivational messages from the staff, and more.
From: Dupage County Drug Court; Wheaton, Illinois
Encouragement Letter
A letter to participants from the treatment court team.
Download LaPorte County Drug Court Letter to Participants
From: LaPorte County Drug Court; Michigan City, Indiana
Kudoboard
Creating virtual praise for graduates and phase promotions
Outline of Participant Requirements
In a letter to all participants, the judge outlines what is expected of clients during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Download the letter
From: Ottawa County Recovery Court; Grand Haven, Michigan
Emergency Order Public Notice
The court issued an emergency order public notice outlining a point of contact, the schedule for virtual staffings and court, check-in and UA procedures, crisis intervention assistance, and online support group information.
Download the emergency order public notice
From: Tulalip Healing to Wellness Court; Tulalip, Washington
Alternative Sanctions
The court is looking into using GPS monitors for those with significant issues. Other sanctions include daily online meetings, a daily activity log, and counselor or probation directed homework (e.g. thinking error reports, behavior chain assignments, essays, etc.).
From: Douglas County Circuit Court; Roseburg, Oregon
Sanction Hearings
The court is conducting virtual sanction dockets on Monday afternoons with calling in for 10 minute intervals to address judge and discuss their issues.
From: 39th Circuit Treatment Court; Galena, Missouri
Staff Collaboration
The court is utilizing Zoom and the ability to share screens to review documents as a team. The judge noted that standard regarding email communication created a culture to work from that has been instrumental in the success of this shift.
From: 39th Circuit Treatment Court; Galena, Missouri
Treatment
The court is utilizing HIPPA-compliant Box to share CMS reports.
From: Lancaster County Adult Drug Court; Lincoln, Nebraska
Website Resource Guide
Created a resource guide to helpful web-based materials for all Georgia treatment courts.
Download the guide
From: Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges; Atlanta, Georgia
Adding Additional Hearings
The court broke up its weekly Monday status hearing into three meetings, allowing all participants to spend critical time with the judge while ensuring social distancing with fewer than 20 participants in the courtroom, compared to crowding in more than 50 at a typical status hearing.
From: Fifth Judicial District Adult Drug Court; Pahrump, Nevada
Virtual Hearings
Court is limiting behaviors requiring immediate responses and moving to virtual court for individuals identified as being non-compliant. Looking to utilize Zoom app on court-provided Corrisoft phones to host the virtual status hearing.
From: St. Charles County Adult Drug Court; St. Charles, Missouri
Telephone Hearings
The court is conducting virtual sanction dockets on Monday afternoons with participants calling in for 10 minute intervals to address judge and discuss their issues.
From: 39th Circuit Treatment Court; Galena, Missouri
Drive-Through Hearings
The court is meeting with participants in a local park in cars while maintaining a safe distance.
Read about the court
From: Washington County Adult Drug Court; Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Distance Learning
Probation office implemented a distance learning component to supervision.
Learn more about the COPE Program
From: Coconino County Adult Drug Court; Flagstaff, Arizona
Policies and Procedures
Probation office created written policies and procedures for the use of technology in meeting required supervision standards.
Read the policies and procedures
From: Coconino County Adult Drug Court; Flagstaff, Arizona
Court-Issued Phones
Utilizing Corrisoft phones which every drug court participant is issued in phase 1 for GPS self-check-ins, text and video communication, and information distribution to all participants.
From: St. Charles County Drug Court; St. Charles, Missouri
Field Visits
Probation teams are still conducting field visits but are instructed to stay at a safe distance.
From: South St. Louis County DWI Court; Duluth, Minnesota
Phone Check-ins
Case manager and coordinator are checking in with participants two times per week by phone.
From: Athens-Clark County DWI Court; Athens, Georgia
Virtual Check-ins
Probation officer connecting with clients via Zoom every day or every other day; participants are required to stay at home.
From: El Paso County DUI Court; El Paso, Texas
Court is using a Google Voice account to text and call with participants. Initially set up as an after hours line, has turned into the primary way of communication. Many participants will even take pictures of their AA/NA cards and send it as a text so they don't lose their card.
From: Lancaster County Adult Drug Court; Lincoln, Nebraska
Online Reporting
Court is utilizing its own website to allow participants to submit weekly contact form and attach supporting documents. Forms are emailed to the selected probation officer and then transferred to CMS.
Lancaster County Drug Court website
From: Lancaster County Adult Drug Court; Lincoln, Nebraska
Recovery Meeting Requirements
The court created a document outlining new requirements for participants attending recovery meetings.
Download the requirement outline
From: Ottawa County Recovery Court; Grand Haven, Michigan
Virtual Chat Groups
The court is using an app called Voxer that allows chat groups. The court created separate men’s and women’s chat groups that includes the judge, probation officer, coordinator, recovery support folks (one from team, one from community), defense attorney and me. Voxer chats are not for talking case or court business but for sharing recovery supports, times for our virtual yoga, articles, online encouragement, pet pictures, complaints about the weather, etc.
From: South St. Louis County DWI Court; Duluth, Minnesota
Sober Living Home Partnership
Partnered with sober living transitional home to encourage pro-social activities while maintaining social distancing. For example. horticulture groups, equine therapy, etc.
From: Tulalip Healing to Wellness Court; Tulalip, Washington
Virtual Meeting Guidance
Participants received printed instructions for accessing online and call-in support groups. Team members worked with each participant to add Zoom on their devices.
From: Smyth County Recovery Court; Marion, Virginia
Protocol for Remote Drug Testing
Court created a written protocol for providing and implementing oral test kits for participants. Probation or case manager uses Zoom to witness participants taking the test.
Read the protocol
From: Solano Collaborative Courts; Solano, California
Distance Testing Check-In
Utilizing The Receptionist software, participants check in to the testing center and staff is notified via email and text they have arrived, allowing staff to keep distance.
Download participant instructions for signing in
From: Lancaster County Adult Drug Court; Lincoln, Nebraska
Text on Arrival
Testing lab is limiting occupancy to three people so participants text lab when they arrive and the lab responds when it is safe to come in.
From: St. Charles County Drug Court; St. Charles, Missouri
Drug Testing Patches
For higher risk clients are using drug testing patches through Pharmchem to be worn for 7-10 days and then removed and sent to lab for confirmation of any substance use.
From: 22nd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court; Woodstock, Illinois
Two-Way Mirror
The court is utilizing a room with a two-way mirror for testing and giving each participant 15 minutes to test while keeping social distancing. If participants cannot make it, they are not sanctioned but probation keeps a list and will follow up with a test at home.
From: Athens-Clark County DWI Court; Athens, Georgia
Ghost Numbers
The court reduced the number of testing on weekends from 400 to 40. So participants don't know they are being tested less, the court is using ghost numbers.
From: STEER Court; Billings, Montana
Government-assisted Phone Service
Treatment providers are connecting with clients using phones from the federal government's Lifeline Program. The program provides free phone service to any Medicaid or food-assistance user. The court uses the provider Q Link, which provides phones for $25 and ships within 5-10 days.
From: Idaho Treatment Courts
Smart Recovery
The court is using Smart Recovery for treatment sessions. The client attends 1-3 meetings per week and then completes a summary on each meeting. They are required to get a verification form from the meeting which they send to their primary counselor. They meet once per week with their primary counselor via email or phone to discuss what they learned in the meeting. For the clients who are not computer-literate, they are given worksheets from Smart Recovery to work on and discuss them over the phone with their primary counselor once/twice per week.
From: DeKalb County DUI Court Program; Decatur, Georgia
Online Videos with Assignments
Recovery support coaches created a list of online videos and corresponding written assignments to be completed.
From: Ottawa County Recovery Court; Grand Haven, Michigan
Virtual Treatment
The court's clinical team is utilizing Doxy.me, a telehealth video platform to have clinical sessions to support clients. Clients online meetings and complete summaries of each meeting submitted to probation officers.
From: 22nd Circuit Adult Drug Court; Woodstock, Illinois
Counseling is 100% virtual including groups and lectures using a Zoom account that is under Zoom's HIPAA compliant health plan. They use the TeleHealth One to protect privacy.
From: North Oakland County Veterans Treatment Court; Waterford Township, Michigan
Phone Check-ins
From the court: VA has suspended their IOP groups but therapists are checking in daily with their clients via phone.
- District 3A Problem Solving Courts; Lincoln, Nebraska