The drug accountability court program in Hall County has been providing early intervention to those with substance abuse issues since 2001.
Superior Court Judge with the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Jason Deal, said that you can see the success of the program in the community.
“We have graduates that work at the hospital. We have graduates that come back and work for us as counselors,” Deal said.
Deal played a part in the planning of the drug court program with former Senior Superior Court Judge John Girardeau. After Girardeau retired, Deal took up his position and also helped start the Dawson County Treatment Court.
Drug Court is a volunteer program that lasts up to a minimum of two years. According to Deal, participants will have to have committed a criminal offense.
“The requirements to be in an accountability court are strenuous. They have to one had to plead guilty to their charge early on in the probate process to enter into the program,” Deal said.
Once in the program, participants are expected to work or attend school full-time, attend evening classes, attend counseling, are subjected to random drug and alcohol screenings at least three times a week, abide by a curfew and have to go to court once a week.
In order to graduate Deal said participants have to have clean drug screens and need to have finished the curriculum. Superior Court Judge Clint Bearden said another important aspect of the program is that they encourage participants to try and graduate with a GED.
“Many of our participants don't have a high school degree. And that's really important because that's something that they wouldn't otherwise take the time to do most likely,” Bearden said.
Bearden got involved with the program in July 2018, after an invitation from Judge Deal.
According to Deal, the Drug Court program is seen by many as a “hug-thug, soft on crime program.” However, he said the program is more strenuous than probation and in many ways could be harder than going to prison.
“In drug court, you have to follow all the rules, while supporting yourself and your family and stay drug-free and working. And it's, it's tough but is a benefit to our community,” Deal said.
