CLICK HERE TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH MAGISTRATE DAVE MADDOX
On Monday September 23rd, the 93rd District Court Sobriety Court Program and the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Mental Health Court (EUPMHC) held a combined ceremony to highlight the accomplishments of four participants who met the criteria to graduate from the programs.
The 93rd District Court Sobriety Court program operates in Schoolcraft and Alger Counties, while the EUPMHC is based in Schoolcraft County but operates in Schoolcraft, Alger, Luce, Mackinac, and Chippewa Counties. These courts, known as problem solving courts, provide extended periods of probation supervision paired with intensive and specialized treatment plans. The goal of the programs is to reduce recidivism by increasing accountability while treating underlying substance abuse addiction and mental health diagnosis of the participants.
District Court Judge Mark Luoma, who also serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP) presided over the ceremony which was held with other problem solving court treatment participants and the treatment teams. Treatment teams are comprised of court staff, treatment professionals, probation agents, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement. These teams meet twice monthly to assess each participant’s progress and continually assess participant’s goals and treatment plans.
“We continue our work in these problem solving courts because we are able to see the difference that they make in our communities. Our best practices have been independently evaluated and have been shown to yield positive outcomes. If we pair these practices with a motivated participant, aggressive treatment and supervision, we are seeing positive results. Our staff, treatment providers and clinicians are motived to instill lasting changes and hopefully start to rebuild some of the damage caused by these underlying issues,” said Judge Mark Luoma.
Continuing education in specialty court best practices is critical to maintaining program successes. On Friday September 13, 2019, MATCP hosted an all-day training at Bay College in Escanaba for problem solving courts from across the Upper Peninsula which was attended by over 100 MATCP members.
Cooperation between the agencies that are represented on the treatment court teams and the county boards of commissioners is also an important element to the success of our programs. “We’ve been extremely fortunate to have partnered with Alger and Schoolcraft County and they act as the fiduciary agent for these programs. Both the 93rd District Court Sobriety Court and the EUPMHC are 100% reimbursed by grants provided by the Michigan Supreme Court,” said Magistrate David Maddox, “we look forward to continuing to work together.”
During Monday’s graduation ceremony Judge Luoma praised the hard work of the participants for making positive changes in their lives and meeting their goals. He asked the graduates if they had anything they would like to say. One participant addressed those who are still participating in the treatment court program. “Stick with your recovery”, he said, “there are times the process is difficult, but when you reach this point, it’s very rewarding.”
