Drug Courts Work:
A Closer Look at the Adult Drug Court
Program of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit
By Cami Fowler for Judge Brenda Weaver
D
rug Courts are becoming more commonplace,
not only in the State of Georgia, but also nationwide.
Exactly twenty-five years ago, the first one was
created in Miami, Florida. Its creation launched a
nationwide change in how judicial systems handle
drug-related criminal offenses. Now over 2,800
Drug Courts exist across the nation. Every county
in the Appalachian Circuit (Pickens, Gilmer,
Fannin) operates one with Chief Judge Brenda S.
Weaver presiding. It is a specialized court operating
as a division of the Superior Court. Its mission is to
stop abuse of drugs, alcohol, and related
criminal activity so that participants may
be
productive, gainfully employed members of
society. The premise is simple: rather than continue
through the criminal justice system at great expense
to the public, the court may use its leverage to keep
them engaged in drug treatment long enough for it
to be successful.
Drug Courts have proven that a combination of
accountability and compassion not only saves
lives, but saves valuable resources and reduces
exhorbitant criminal justice costs. Judge Weaver
has served as the Drug Court Judge since she created the felony drug court program in 2002.
Judge Weaver states that she was motivated to create
a Drug Court because she saw that jails did not
address the underlying reason the individual became incarcerated. Generally when the individual
was released, he/she resumed abusing drugs, was
rearrested, and lost his/her children. The cycle continued with the next generation. Judge Weaver sees
accountability courts as a way to stop the cycle and
address the root cause of the issue.
Drug Court is run by a team, led by Judge Weaver.
Members of the team include the Drug Court Coordinator, Public Defender, District Attorney, Compliance/Probation Officers, Case Managers and
Treatment Providers. Each member of the team
plays a role in helping the participant graduate from
the program. Participants receive careful monitoring, supervision, and addiction counseling. They
must comply with curfew requirements, become
gainfully employed, and pass regular drug screens.
To graduate, a participant must appear before Judge
Weaver twice per month, complete two years of
intensive outpatient alcohol and other drug treatment, and maintain gainful employment, receive
a GED or high school equivalency diploma, and
achieve at least 365 days of negative drug screens. A
GED is important because an increasing number of
employers require a high school diploma. The Drug
Court Program is responsible for making members
of Pickens, Fannin, and Gilmer Counties more
productive citizens.
Judge Weaver believes that a common misconception about drug courts is that the program is “easy”
to complete, and that criminal offenders are not
properly punished for criminal behavior. The
public fails to realize the amount of time required to
complete the program, and the level of commitment
from the participants and the Drug Court Team.
Since the program was created, the Drug Court of
the Appalachian Judicial Circuit has graduated 163
participants, and 78,765 drug screens have been
performed. The Drug Court is responsible for 84
participants earning their GED while enrolled in
the program.
Defense Attorney
DUI/DRUGS