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Drug Court Contact
Intake/Probation Officer
Iberia Courthouse Building
New Iberia, LA 70560
337-369-4420
Intake/Probation Officer
St. Mary Courthouse Building
Franklin, LA 70538
337-828-4100 ext. 350
Intake/Probation Officer
St. Martin Courthouse Building
St. Martinville, LA 70582
337-394-2220
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DRUG COURT
The 16th Judicial District Adult Drug Court first began in St. Mary Parish in 1997 with Judge William Hunter. The program expanded to Iberia Parish in 1998 with Judge Gerard Wattigny and to St. Martin in 2002 with Judge Paul deMahy. Currently, Adult Drug Court is handled by Judge Curtis Sigur in St. Martin Parish, Judge Lewis Pitman in St. Mary Parish and Judge Anthony Thibodeaux in Iberia Parish.
WHAT IS DRUG COURT?
"Drug treatment courts" were developed in Florida in the early 1990s as an alternative to traditional criminal justice prosecution for drug-related offenses. These courts combine the close supervision of the judicial process with resources available through alcohol and drug treatment services. The goals of Drug Court are to reduce recidivism of drug-related offenses and to create options within the criminal justice system for effective and appropriate responses to offenders who commit crimes to support their drug habit.
QUALIFICATIONS
Offenders may qualify if charged with non-violent misdemeanor or felony offenses, provided substance abuse is the source of criminal behavior and is directly related to substance abuse.
Prospective clients are evaluated by the Intake/Probation Officer and then referred to the treatment providers in each parish for the second evaluation.
Once offenders meet the criteria to enter the program, and the victim is notified, they plead guilty to their offense and immediately begin intensive outpatient or inpatient treatment along with intensive probation.
PROCESS
The program is broken up into phases with each phase requiring the clients to attend treatment sessions. As they progress through the different phases the amount of treatment sessions they attend weekly decreases. Throughout the entire program, clients are required to:
- Take drug and alcohol screens every time they go to treatment.
- Find employment.
- Attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
- Obtain a GED.
- Pay fines and make restitution and not engage in criminal behavior .
Clients meet with the Drug Court Judge and probation officer on a regular basis in order to be evaluated to determine the clients progress or lack there of so that incentives and sanctions can be provided by the court. If the client successfully completes treatment and probation, charges are dismissed from their record.
Sanctions may include jail and community service; halfway houses; additional outpatient treatment and any other activity that the court feels is appropriate to address undesired behavior. If clients do not successfully complete Drug Court, their probation is revoked and they are sentenced by the sentencing judge.