{“featuredImages”:[],”content”:”
The Eighth Judicial District Court is using a $1.4 million grant from the State Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) to work to end the cycle of addiction and crime through residential treatment for 80 participants. There is a desperate need for residential substance abuse and mental health treatment in Clark County. Residential treatment with wraparound services offers judges a viable sentencing alternative to jail-time. It is an approach that has proven to have better outcomes than punitive sentencing.
“I applaud Governor Brian Sandoval and the leadership of DPBH Director Richard Whitley for their efforts to make this funding a reality and taking action to address this pressing need,” said District Court Chief Judge David Barker. “Residential treatment infrastructure has been a missing element in our specialty courts continuum of care. The residential component improves the odds of long-term success for participants. Not only is residential treatment more effective, but it is less expensive than jail. The results are: millions of dollars in savings for the jail, a reduction in jail overcrowding and more individuals successfully completing treatment and becoming productive members of our community.”
The court will use the $1.4 million to provide residential treatment services to 80 defendants per month from District Court and/or the Las Vegas Justice Court. Initially, the Freedom House Project will be the service provider; other providers will be added as they become available. Approximately 35 participants have already been placed in treatment; another 100 people have been sentenced and are waiting to move to a treatment facility.
The residential placements are broken into three levels of care. The Freedom House Coordinated Care Program will provide housing and a drug-free environment to 40 specialty court participants who are also in outpatient treatment through the Choices Group or other treatment providers. In addition, the funding will cover up to 30 specialty court participants who are sentenced to sober-living with intensive out-patient programming provided in-house. Up to 10 residential placements will go for in-patient substance abuse treatment services with 24/7 care, monitoring, treatment and housing.
The Freedom House ANCHOR Project will also be available to provide a full range of integrated services for ex-offenders needing access to housing, education/training, and employment to reduce the likelihood of residents returning to jail or prison. Programming includes the use of mentors, re-entry counseling, job skills development, and employment opportunities. The ANCHOR Project will use evidence-based tools/techniques for successful community reentry/reintegration and access to a range of best-practice services tailored to individual client’s needs.
“}