Thursday, September 28, 2023
9/28/2023
The Las Vegas Justice Court Drug Court Expansion project seeks to expand its current program to provide for an additional 50 new participants per year and 250 for lifetime of the project. Las Vegas Justice Court Drug Court (LVJCDC) has seen an explosion in numbers of people being referred into its program due to the rapid influx of substance abuse related crime in the Las Vegas area. Current funding for LVJCDC is limited to only 60-75 participants a year, yet, on average, 14 new participants are referred to LVJCDC each month, totaling approximately 168 new referrals a year. Over half the new referrals are opioid dependent and at least 5 referrals a month are homeless - both requiring enhanced services. Funding limitations are causing LVJCDC to limit entry into the program and also restrict providing the needed enhanced services for participants. These enhanced services include, but are not limited to, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), inpatient treatment, sober living, enhanced counseling, electronic monitoring, public transportation passes, work force assistance, reclaiming government issued identification and additional social services. Without these additional services, both the opioid dependent participants and homeless participants face a higher rate of failure in the program. To adequately service these new project participants, a project director would need to be hired and funded for the length of the project. Acceptance of these new participants would begin immediately upon funding. Once the defendant is identified as being a candidate for LVJCDC, they are evaluated. All referrals are evaluated, but not everyone meets LVJCDC program admission criteria. There is no discrimination because of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, physical or mental disability, religion or socioeconomic status in the selection of eligible participants, however, referrals must be 18 years of age or older. Referrals with a violent criminal history/underlying offense, or presenting with significant mental health pathology are not accepted into LVJCDC. Participants must be evaluated as being high-risk/high-needs as the LVJCDC program criterion is aimed at substance abuse and criminal activity. Once a new referral is evaluated and accepted into LVJCDC, the goals are to (1) have any incarcerated homeless participant released into a stable, drug-free housing environment for at least one month and up to three months to gain stability; (2) provide participants substance abuse treatment, with MAT if needed; (3) assist participants in obtaining government issued identification if needed and (4) connect participants with local job and community resources to establish self-sufficiency while continuing in treatment to become drug-free and a productive member of the community. LVJCDC’s program is at least 18 months in length, and is structured to address the individualized needs of the participants. The ultimate goal of LVJCDC is to assist participants in overcoming their substance abuse problem while also addressing their habilitation needs so that participants cease having involvement in the criminal justice system.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
