Archive for category Specialty Courts
Justice Court Judge Demonstrates Effectiveness Of DUI Courts
Posted by Michael in DUI Court, Justice Court, Specialty Courts on March 10th, 2010
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Township Justice Court Judge Tony Abbatangelo is leading a team from San Diego this week through a series of workshops to assist them in establishing a DUI Court program. Judge Abbatangelo will provide his expertise as an established DUI Court judge to help San Diego focus efforts on the creation of a program that will address the needs of individuals most likely to re-offend.
Abbatangelo is attending the three day workshop in Newport Beach, Calif. to provide assistance and advice to a nine-person team from the San Diego Superior Court. Judge Abbatangelo was recruited by the National Center for DWI Courts and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The San Diego team is made up of a judge, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, law enforcement and a DUI Court coordinator. Judge Abbatangelo will share the DUI Court experience in Clark County and provide the San Diego team with the needed tools to establish a new DUI Court. These programs have been proven to save taxpayers money by addressing the core of the individual’s problem which is alcohol addiction or abuse.
“The Las Vegas Justice Court’s two DUI Courts focus on a therapeutic court model to seek a change in behavior and a goal of reducing repeat offenses,” said Judge Abbatangelo. “We have been very successful and now the Las Vegas Justice Court is sharing its experiences and examples of success with other courts.”
DUI Courts address the hardcore drinkers. A driver with a blood alcohol level of .15 or greater is at least 20 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober drivers. Judge Abbatangelo uses token compliance gifts to reward and motivate participants to complete the program, which usually takes a year to complete. Attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings twice a week is required of participants in the Las Vegas Justice Court.
Participants doing well in treatment require less court appearances as they complete each phase of treatment. However, if a participant refuses to comply or has a relapse, the Judge can impose sanctions such as ordering the offender to return to House Arrest, writing an essay, community service, or requiring additional daily AA meetings.
All of these motivation and compliance strategies will be shared with the San Diego delegation. The conference continues through Thursday in Newport Beach.
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Adult Drug Court To Benefit From Residential Treatment Grant
Posted by Michael in Administration, Drug Court, Media, News Release, Specialty Courts on October 26th, 2009
Local Non-Profits to Partner with Court to Expand Treatment Options
LAS VEGAS – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded the Eighth Judicial District Court an $885,960 grant to expand residential treatment options for participants in the Adult Drug Court. The money will improve efforts to retain participants in the Adult Drug Court program, reduce recidivism, and reduce overcrowding in the local jail. The District Court will use the three-year grant to partner with local non-profit organizations to place more individuals into residential or day treatment services.
“Southern Nevada is in desperate need of funding for residential substance abuse and mental health treatment beds. This grant will provide a much needed resource to our community for those people who are extremely addicted to illegal drugs and prescription drugs,” said Judge Jackie Glass. “The court can now assist more individuals that require an intensive treatment program in order to break their cycle of drug addiction.”
The three-year grant will provide $295,320 a year to extend appropriate treatment options to participants when residential treatment beds are fully occupied, protect the community by addressing drug addition and reduce the number of drug offenders sitting in the jail seeking treatment.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for improving substance abuse prevention. Considered as a model court, the District Court’s Adult Drug Court was established in 1992 to provide supervision and treatment for individuals addicted to drugs. When the Adult Drug Court was created, only four Drug Courts operated across the nation.
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Model Drug Court Provides Way to Keep Families Together During Treatment
Posted by Michael in CourtTV, Criminal, District Court, Drug Court, Family Court, Specialty Courts, Trial on August 13th, 2009
The Clark County Courts have been working with the federal government since March 2008 to develop a new drug court that allows mothers to avoid jail and obtain treatment. The unique aspect of this story is the mothers live with their children in a residential treatment program at WestCare. The court will honor a graduate at 1 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 14) and seven more mothers are preparing to graduate. This program not only keeps families together but reduces the cost of incarceration in the Clark County Detention Center or a Nevada State Prison.
WHAT: A new graduate of the Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court will be recognized.
WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday (August 14).
WHERE: Westcare, 5659 Duncan Dr, Las Vegas, (Off Rancho and Duncan).
EVENT: Since March 2008 the Clark County Courts have participated as a model court in a new federal program that works to help mothers become drug free in a unique residential treatment program. The Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court was established to assist women who have child custody issues due to their addiction to methamphetamine or other substances.
The residential treatment program is unique in that mothers and their children live together while receiving treatment. The Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court provides a positive alternative to incarceration that rehabilitates and strengthens families, breaks the cycle of drug use and enhances family reunification efforts.
The first graduate of this program will be honored. In addition, the court has seven additional mothers preparing for graduation. This event will recognize the achievements of these mothers and introduce this important program to the community.
CONTACT: Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.
Steven Grierson Selected as Court Executive Officer
Posted by Michael in Administration, Chief Judge, Specialty Courts on July 24th, 2009
The judges of the Clark County Courts have selected Steven D. Grierson as the Court Executive Officer for the Las Vegas Township Justice Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court. Grierson replaces Edward A. Friedland, Esq. who resigned from the position in June.
Grierson most recently served as the Assistant Clerk of the Court in the Eighth Judicial District Court. He managed the Court Clerk functions and previously served as administrator for the Specialty Courts Division, including the Mental Health and Drug Courts.
“I am honored to be chosen for this position and am looking forward to carrying out the vision and mission of the Clark County Courts,” said Grierson. “My key focus will be to balance the Court’s successful spending control strategies while constructing new courtrooms and implementing major technology initiatives.”
Grierson will administer the needs of two urban courts made up of 55 elected judges, 13 commissioners and hearing masters and approximately 800 employees. The Clark County Courts consist of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court and represent Nevada’s largest urban court system.
“Mr. Grierson has been an integral part of our courts for the past 12 years,” said Las Vegas Township Justice Court Chief Ann Zimmerman. “He has been instrumental in initiating innovative programs in the Specialty Courts Division, as well as providing his expertise on legislative matters. He has been invaluable in establishing and maintaining relationships with our partners in the justice community.”
“Steve understands the challenges the court faces in implementing new programs and in supporting judicial officers,” said Eighth Judicial District Court Chief Judge T. Arthur Ritchie, Jr. “He has experience in inter-government relations and has worked at the highest level of decision making during the last three legislative sessions. Furthermore, he and his family are long time Nevada residents who are committed to our community.”
Grierson is a two-time alumnus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He earned his Master of Science in Counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1997 and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1992.
In 2005, the elected judges of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court agreed to consolidate certain court functions under a single court administrator with the intention of promoting efficiency, improving collaboration and strengthening the independence of the judiciary.
The Eighth Judicial District Court is the largest general jurisdiction court in Nevada and encompasses all municipalities and outlying communities in Clark County. The District Court’s elected judges preside over more than 99,000 criminal, civil and domestic cases filed each year in the court. The Las Vegas Township Justice Court serves as the limited jurisdiction court for urban Clark County, comprising the Las Vegas Strip and the unincorporated areas of Las Vegas. The Justice Court’s elected judges preside over more than 50,000 criminal cases, 85,000 small claims, evictions, and other civil disputes, as well as more than 240,000 traffic matters each year.
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Drug Court Graduation Features 500th Drug-Free Baby
Posted by Michael in Administration, District Court, Drug Court, Events, Specialty Courts on May 13th, 2009
WHAT: Drug Court Judge Jennifer Elliott will honor graduates from the Court’s various Drug Courts, as well as the mother of the court’s 500th Drug Free Baby.
WHERE: Choices Group Inc., 800 South Valley View Boulevard, Las Vegas.
WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Friday (May 15).
EVENT: Choices Group, the substance abuse treatment services provider for the Clark County Courts, will host a Drug Court graduation for individuals who have successfully completed various Drug Court programs. In addition, the court will honor a mother in the dependency drug court program who gave birth to the court’s 500th Drug–Free Baby. The dependency drug court strives to help expectant mothers remain drug-free and encourage them to receive pre-natal care for their babies.
Judge Jennifer Elliot Selected To Serve As Drug Court Judge
Posted by Michael in Administration, Chief Judge, District Court, Drug Court, Family Court on November 6th, 2008
A therapist and judge will soon provide therapeutic justice to individuals in the Drug Courts of the Eighth Judicial District Court.
Chief Judge Kathy A. Hardcastle has assigned Family Court Judge Jennifer Elliott to serve as the Eighth Judicial District Court’s Adult Drug Court Judge, effective Nov. 12. In addition to her Family Court responsibilities, Elliott will preside over the Adult Criminal Drug Court, the Prison Re-entry Drug Court and the Dependency Mother’s Drug Court.
Judge Hardcastle indicated that placing a sitting judge and preparing for expansion in drug court has been a priority for the court. “Expanding the use of the Drug Courts is good public policy,” Hardcastle said.
Judge Elliott has been a licensed attorney in Nevada since 1986, and was a licensed marriage and family therapist in Nevada, graduating from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998 with a masters of science in counseling, before taking the bench in 2002.
”I am honored that Chief Judge Hardcastle and Chief-Elect Art Ritchie have the confidence in me and my judicial record to place me in charge of Drug Court, which has over 600 participants,” said Judge Elliott. “There were less than five drug courts when Judge Jack Lehman pioneered Clark County’s first Drug Court in the early 1990’s, and now there are over 2,700 drug courts nationwide. This is because drug courts work to reduce the number of days in jail and reduce state and county costs through a reduction in the drug seeking behavior and related crimes of drug abuse.”
The District Court’s Adult Drug Court program is available as a sentencing option to defendants with a drug addiction. The court program mandates sobriety and advocates treatment over incarceration for those willing to change. Individuals accepted into the program must abstain from all drugs, including alcohol, and attend counseling sessions and weekly court sessions for at least one year.
Currently more than 600 individuals are enrolled in the Adult Criminal Drug Court, which has expanded to three days a week at the Regional Justice Center. In order to share courtrooms, Judge Elliott will conduct in-custody drug court hearings via video conference.
“We’ll do whatever we can to get our work done with the courtrooms we have,” stated Chief Judge-Elect Art Ritchie.
The Eighth Judicial District’s Drug Courts are considered models for other courts across the nation. Since September 1992, the Adult Criminal Drug Court has served more than 9,000 people and more than over 3,900 have graduated from the program.
The District Court operates an Adult Criminal Drug Court, a Prison Re-entry Drug Court, a Juvenile Drug Court, a Dependency Drug Court, a Dependency Mother’s Drug Court, and a Child Support Drug Court.
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For more information or to arrange an interview contact Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.
Las Vegas Justice Court Doubles Efforts to Sideline DUI Offenders
Posted by Michael in Administration, DUI Court, Judges, Justice Court, News Release on October 16th, 2008
Second DUI Court Seeks To Increase Public Safety By Breaking Cycle of Addiction
A second DUI Court has been added in the Las Vegas Justice Court Township with funding from a grant provided by the State of Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety. The court, presided over by Judge Nancy Oesterle, joins the other specialty court started in 2003 by Judge Tony Abbatangelo.
The second court was necessary as more offenders have entered the program. There are currently 180 individuals participating in both DUI Courts. Designed as a court-supervised, comprehensive treatment program, the DUI Specialty Court is designed to help first and second DUI offenders obtain treatment for misdemeanor DUI offenses.
Across the state, driving impaired arrests have increased to 18,235, or one arrest for every 94 drivers, according to Chuck Abbott, Director of Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety. “For some time, we have recognized that improving law enforcement is only the first step in reducing/eliminating the problem of impaired drivers on Nevada’s roadways,” said Abbott. “The fact is DUI courts have proven to be an extremely effective way of solving the cause of the problem.”
The Las Vegas Township Justice Court plans to expand the DUI Courts to approximately 300 participants with the addition of the second court.
“The Justice Court DUI program provides intensive substance abuse treatment,” said Program Coordinator, Ray Figueroa. “We use a therapeutic court model, which means we monitor participants through House Arrest, breath testing, drug testing, Breath Ignition Interlock Device, and compliance rewards for meeting treatment goals in a timely fashion.”
Judge Oesterle volunteered to preside over the DUI Specialty Court because the program has proven to be effective. “The Court serves an important purpose instead of merely warehousing the “hard-core” alcoholics in jail and then releasing them from custody to re-offend again, we are offering them the hope of a clean and sober lifestyle. The recidivism rate is very low,” stated Oesterle.
The participants are required to pay for the expense of their own treatment plan, which is approximately $4,500. The program is cost effective for the taxpayers who would otherwise be paying for the incarceration bill. “I believe it is a win/win situation. The program represents a substantial commitment on behalf of everyone involved, including the Judge. However, we do it because we are committed to saving lives; those of the participants and innocent members of our community,” said Oesterle.
Not everyone qualifies for the Court. A team of individuals screen offenders to determine if they meet the criteria to qualify for the program. The DUI Court Judge, attorneys, treatment providers, representatives from Clark County’s House Arrest unit, and representatives from Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM), along with the program coordinator, Ray Figueroa, meet prior to court to review each participant’s progress before the court appearance.
“Normally, when a defendant is sentenced by a Judge to the DUI Court, there is a six-month suspended jail sentence imposed to ensure compliance within the program,” said Figueroa. This underlying jail sentence provides an incentive to finish the program and to obtain the necessary treatment to avoid further problems with drinking and driving.
As long as the individual remains compliant with all of the Court’s orders, they will not be required to serve any portion of their suspended sentence. All DUI offenders in the program are placed on House Arrest for the first 90 days of their involvement to assist in their transition into the therapeutic process. The House Arrest ankle bracelets have Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring and a House Arrest Officer is assigned to supervise the individual during that time frame. Random drug testing and in-home breath testing units monitor individual abstinence from alcohol and give participants an opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to comply with the Judge’s orders.
Judge Oesterle begins each DUI Specialty Court hearing with “A thought of the day” which is provided in open court, before all of the participants, by one of the members in the DUI Court program. “It’s always from the heart as each person describes how the treatment program has helped them live a clean and sober life,” said Judge Oesterle. “Many times, the participants are very emotional and thankful for being allowed into a program that really improves their lives. It motivates the audience to continue with their own treatment program for the opportunity to address their own chronic alcohol problem,” said Oesterle.
DUI Court Judges utilize token compliance gifts to reward and motivate participants to complete the program, which usually takes a year to complete. Additionally, participants doing well in treatment require less court appearances as they complete each phase of treatment. However, if a participant refuses to comply or has a relapse, the Judge can impose sanctions such as ordering the offender to return to House Arrest, writing an essay, community service, or requiring additional daily AA meetings. In a small number of cases, the Judge will terminate the individual from the program and impose the suspended jail sentence. Terminations account for roughly 20 percent of the individuals accepted into the program since it started five years ago.
The program’s length is determined by the progress made by the individual participants. Once the requirements are met, individuals meet with the presiding Judge and their treatment team to review their progress and schedule a graduation date. A formal graduation ceremony is held during open court to demonstrate to other participants that the program can result in success and it also rewards the individual for successfully completing the program.
“Graduation day is an inspiring day for the individual and to those around them that have worked just as hard to help them finish the program,” said Figueroa.
Mental Health Court Applauded For Tackling Community Problem
Posted by Michael in District Court, Judges, Mental Health Court, News Release on July 18th, 2006
A second Clark County District Court program has been selected by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for a 2006 Achievement Award. District Court’s Mental Health Court has been identified as an innovative and progressive specialty court allowing the community to divert offenders with mental illness, who are charged primarily with non-violent offenses, into treatment programs. Previously this month, the District Court was selected to receive a 2006 NACo Achievement Award for its eJuror system. Read the rest of this entry »
State v. Michael Allgood
Posted by Michael in Criminal, District Court, Justice Court, Mental Health Court on July 17th, 2006
Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Melanie Tobiasson ordered this morning that Michael Allgood should be evaluated by a District Court judge to determine if Allgood should be referred for a psychological evaluation. Judge Jackie Glass will consider the matter Aug. 8. If Judge Glass agrees Allgood should be evaluated, he will be remanded to Lakes Crossing in Sparks for testing.
Allgood faces five felony charges, including kidnapping, battery and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an incident June 27 at McCarran International Airport. Allgood is accused of kidnapping a three-year-old boy during a stand-off with police.
First Mental Health Court Graduates Honored
Posted by Michael in Events, Mental Health Court, News Release on April 19th, 2006
Senior Judge John McGroarty will preside over the graduation of two Mental Health Court consumers at 10 a.m. Thursday (April 20) in Courtroom 1A of the Regional Justice Center. These are the first individuals to successfully complete the Mental Health Court program.
The Mental Health Court was established in 2003 to assist the community in providing help to the chronically mentally ill and has provided one piece of the solution to the mental health crisis in southern Nevada. The Mental Health Court provides assistance to individuals who commit crimes, but who are also diagnosed as suffering from a recognizable form of serious mental illness. The court aims to reduce recidivism and divert offenders suffering from a mental illness from area jails to a treatment program. Since opening, the Mental Health Court is credited with reducing the number of non-violent mentally-ill offenders residing in the Clark County Detention Center and other area jails.
Across the United States, jails and prisons are overcrowded with the mentally ill. Since the 1970s, when federal funding for mental health treatment was drastically reduced, many defendants have been locked up without proper treatment and without much hope. There is a corresponding impact on the criminal justice and health care systems. It is estimated that it costs as much as $34,000 each year to house an inmate in the Clark County Detention Center.