Alternative Sentencing and Substance Abuse Services

The Griffin Judicial Circuit Felony Drug Court is a five-phase intervention program for adults who have pled guilty to one or more non-violent drug related offenses and who are having difficulty staying clean and sober. It is a collaborative effort between the Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Police Agencies, Probation, Choice Labs and Turning Point, New Directions for Families. By working together, we seek to provide a variety of programs and consistent supervision geared toward supporting and helping participants maintain a drug-free life. Drug Court involves frequent court appearances, random drug testing, and group and individual counseling. The Court awards incentives for compliant behavior and imposes sanctions for non-compliant behavior.

painting by John Holding

Drug Courts Reduce Crime

FACT: Nationwide, 75% of Drug Court graduates remain arrest-free at least two years after leaving the program.
FACT: Rigorous studies examining long-term outcomes of individual Drug Courts have found that reductions in crime last at least 3 years and can endure for over 14 years.
FACT: The most rigorous and conservative scientific "meta-analyses" have all concluded that Drug Courts significantly reduce crime as much as 35 percent more than other sentencing options.

Drug Courts Save Money

FACT: Nationwide, for every $1.00 invested in Drug Court, taxpayers save as much as $3.36 in avoided criminal justice costs alone.
FACT: When considering other cost offsets such as savings from reduced victimization and healthcare service utilization, studies have shown benefits range up to $12 for every $1 invested.
FACT: Drug Courts produce cost savings ranging from $4,000 to $12,000 per client. These cost savings reflect reduced prison costs, reduced revolving-door arrests and trials, and reduced victimization.
FACT: In 2007, for every Federal dollar invested in Drug Court, $9.00 was leveraged in state funding.

Drug Courts Ensure Compliance

FACT: Unless substance abusing/addicted offenders are regularly supervised by a judge and held accountable, 70% drop out of treatment prematurely.
FACT: Drug Courts provide more comprehensive and closer supervision than other community-based supervision programs.
FACT: Drug Courts are six times more likely to keep offenders in treatment long enough for them to get better.

Drug Courts Combat meth addiction

FACT: For methamphetamine-addicted people, Drug Courts increase treatment program graduation rates by nearly 80%.
FACT: When compared to eight other programs, Drug Courts quadrupled the length of abstinence from methamphetamine.
FACT: Drug Courts reduce methamphetamine use by more than 50% compared to outpatient treatment alone.

Drug Courts Restore Families

FACT: Parents in Family Drug Court are more likely to go to treatment and complete it.
FACT: Children of Family Drug Court participants spend significantly less time in out-of-home placements such as foster care.
FACT: Family re-unification rates are 50% higher for Family Drug Court participants.

Turning Point is pleased to be working in partnership with Choice Labs, Inc. of Fayetteville. As the field of drug testing and monitoring becomes more litigious and complicated, we believe our clients and partners deserve the most accurate, up-to-date and legally defensible laboratory services. Choice Labs is locally owned and operated but nationally connected and can coordinate services in all states and internationally. The staff of Choice Labs are certified collectors and members of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association.