Department: District Courts
Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods, District Courts Administrator
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval to establish and register the CPS Prevention and Rehabilitation Court (For Adults and Juveniles in the Harris County Juvenile District Courts) according to Government Code, Title 2. Judicial Branch, Subtitle K. Specialty Courts, Chapter 130, Juvenile Family Drug Court Program.
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Background and Discussion:
Pursuant to HB 2741, effective September 1, 2023, District Court Administration is requesting that the CPS Prevention and Rehabilitation Court (CPRC) be established. According to the Government Code, Title 2. Judicial Branch, Subtitle K. Specialty Courts, 130, Sec. 130.002 and 122.002. Authority to Establish Program. The commissioners court of a county may establish a Juvenile Family Drug Court Program for individuals who:
(1) are suspected by the Department of Family and Protective Services or the Court of having a substance abuse problem; and (2) reside in the home of a child who is the subject of a case filed under Title 3 and Title 5 of the Texas Family Code.
This Adult and Juvenile Drug Court will work with the following populations:
1. Youth in Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) Status
CPRC will work with parent(s) continuing to battle drug addiction following the conclusion of their Temporary Managing Conservatorship (TMC) cases. We will also work with Child Protective Services (CPS) to identify cases where the barriers for reunification of older youth already in PMC status are the drug-addicted parents. Additionally, this program will require parents to take appropriate assessments, including drug and alcohol, to develop an appropriate level of treatment.
2. Order to Participate in Services (PIS) Status
CPRC will work with parents during their Participation and Services (PIS) cases through Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) to develop a case-specific family service plan. Parents will participate in drug/alcohol and other appropriate assessments to develop an appropriate level of treatment. CPRC will work with parents of infants and toddlers following the Infant and Toddler model. Mothers will be identified for early treatment intervention in the mother/child treatment programs, with an emphasis on drug/alcohol treatment, mental health (if applicable) and other rehabilitation services.
3. Delinquent Diverted Youth
The CRPC will work with youth in Temporary Managing Conservatorship (TMC) and Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) status that are facing placement disruptions and poor school performance due to use of drugs and alcohol, including vaping. Youth will not have pending delinquency matters or participating in the dual status unit. The program will accept the youth once their dual status case closes and the youth is still in need of intensive services. This will be a court ordered program. CRPC will ensure youth have relevant assessments (including drug and alcohol) to develop an appropriate treatment/education plan (TEP). The TEP, along with therapeutic, trauma-focused, court intervention is designed to help divert the youth from involvement in the juvenile and/or adult justice systems, grow their life skills for preparation to adulthood and stability in placement.
Expected Impact:
Having this adult and juvenile drug court available will allow the cases referred to CPRC to utilize integrated substance abuse treatment services as well as the use of a comprehensive case management approach involving court appointed special advocates and case managers. CPRC will assist in the rehabilitation of individuals who are suspected of having substance abuse disorders in the processing of cases and proceedings under Title 3 and Title 5 of the Texas Family Code. More importantly, by definition, the Juvenile Family Drug Court Program (CPS Prevention and Rehabilitation Court) allows for monitoring of abstinence through periodic screening for alcohol or screening for controlled substances and the development of partnerships with public agencies and community organizations with ongoing judicial interaction with program participants.
It should be noted that District Courts is not requesting supplemental budget for this specialty court. Once created, the specialty court will be staffed by existing personnel and grant funding will be sought to defray any labor and/or non-labor costs to manage the program and treatment activities.
Alternative Options:
The youth and families who meet the target population criteria for this program would not receive these services if this specialty court is not established.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any): N/A
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Location:
Address (if applicable): Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, 7th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: January 9, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): February 5, 2024
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Richard Woods, Court Administrator, District Courts
Attachments (if applicable): Resolution for New Drug Court in Juvenile District Courts