The Harris County Drug Treatment Court Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) program bridges the gap between criminal justice and therapeutic approaches to defendants with drug dependencies. STAR is a voluntary program for non-violent drug dependant offenders who have been a part of the revolving door of the criminal justice system and want to change their lives.
STAR referrals must have one prior drug-related conviction or two prior drug related arrests. First offenders may be admitted due to documented drug history. In addition, clients may be on probation or deferred adjudication for a drug-related offense and be in jeopardy of being revoked and sent to prison for violations related to substance abuse. The defense attorney, judge, prosecutor, or court probation officer from any criminal district court can refer eligible candidates to STAR; the district attorney must approve all referrals to assure they meet the legal screening criteria. The court must complete a STAR Screening Referral Form and a STAR/TAIP Referral Form to initiate the referral process.
All referrals receive a clinical evaluation to determine clinical eligibility (dependency) and motivation towards treatment. If the defendant is clinically eligible and motivated, an initial treatment recommendation is made from varying options such as long term residential (180 days), short term residential (90 days) or intensive outpatient. After the defendant agrees to the terms and conditions of the program and signs a performance contract, the case is transferred to one of the three drug court dockets where the client enters his/her plea.
STAR is a post-plea court. All new offenders are placed on deferred adjudication, and all probationers have their conditions of probation amended to reflect participation in the STAR program. STAR’s three dockets serve the needs of over 150 clients. Hon. Judge Michael Wilkinson’s serves on the STAR I docket, and Hon. Brock Thomas serves on the STAR II docket. Hon. Judge Caprice Cosper’s STAR III docket initially began using special funding provided by Access to Recovery, which is now available to all clients. ATR uses a voucher system for substance abuse treatment and recovery support services. Participants in all courts would almost certainly be sentenced to incarceration if not for the STAR Program.
Defendants receive innovative and intensive individualized supervision by the court team and treatment providers. The drug court program is the most intensive supervision an offender gets in the justice system, next to incarceration. In addition to substance abuse counseling, STAR addresses issues beyond sobriety that often lead to relapse such as housing, education, employment, life skills and anger management.
STAR is a tri-phase highly structured program lasting a minimum of 12 months that incorporates judicial oversight and supervision through regular status hearings with case management, substance abuse counseling, random drug testing and 12-step or other support group involvement. Graduation from the drug court part of STAR requires that the participant has proven to be clean and sober and has achieved employment and or education status that will support a sober and law abiding lifestyle. After graduation, participants must participate in an aftercare program for at least 12 months where they will report to a STAR aftercare case manager who will monitor their sobriety and continued participation in peer support groups. Successful discharge from the program is determined on a case-by-case basis.
