52-2 District Court  

Clarkston

Sobriety Court Program

Since 11/1/04, the 52/2 District Court Sobriety Court targets high-risk substance abuse offenders with a current drinking and driving charge, prior alcohol or drug offense, and residing within the 52/2 District Court jurisdiction.  The program aims to reduce recidivism through a comprehensive and structured rehabilitation program, focused on promoting ongoing sobriety, personal responsibility, and productive citizenship.  The program consists of three phases, with the first phase the most intensive.

An independent evaluation report of the first program year concluded that the Sobriety Court Program was meeting the goals of reducing recidivism, offering coordinated and intensive supervision and treatment services, monitoring abstinence, reducing the delay between the offense and enrollment into the program, and improving participant functioning. The goals were met by applying process standards set forth in the Ten Key Components (guidelines for drug and sobriety courts).  Evaluation findings reported a high satisfaction rating by participants and an overall retention rate of 88%.

The first year report also reported on cost savings, most notably with savings in days of incarceration.  Based on comparison group data, the Sobriety Court Program saved over $25,000 in avoided incarceration costs.

Recidivism was also measured.  In the first year, the Sobriety Court Program had a recidivism rate of 4%.  National recidivism rates for sobriety court programs is 16% and national recidivism rates for drunk driving repeat offenders (without sobriety court) is 33%.  The program is coordinated under the supervision of Judges Dana Fortinberry and Kelly Kostin.

Community support of the 52/2 District Court has created the 52/2 District Court Sobriety Court Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, which accepts donations from businesses, organizations and individuals.