1. Harris County Juvenile Probation Drug Court
Honorable Michael Schneider
315th District Court
Harris County, Texas

2. Mission of the HCJPD Juvenile Drug Court
It is the mission of the Harris County Juvenile Drug Court to reduce substance use and related delinquent behavior among participants while increasing pro-social behavior.

3. Our Vision
As participants in the Harris County Juvenile Drug Court reduce substance use, it is our vision that they will increase positive behavior by repairing and strengthening family relationships as well as improving their educational performance.  Participants will be assessed individually to determine the appropriate education plan so that success can be achieved.  Additionally, each participant will be encouraged to engage in positive activities which will enable the juvenile the best opportunity to be successful.
The Harris County Juvenile Drug Court will support the youth in achieving their goals through treatment and therapeutic services for the participant and their family, advocating in the schools, accountability for grades and attendance, and encouraging and providing opportunities to not only explore but also engage in activities of interest to the youth. 
Upon graduation from the Harris County Juvenile Drug Court, the Judge will grant the participant’s application to seal records, therefore providing the juvenile with a fresh start. 

4. Participant profile
HCJPD Juvenile drug court seeks to work with Post-adjudicated youth, age who have exhibited a moderate-to-severe substance abuse problem, as evidenced by commensurate impairments in social, academic, and other functioning as well as non-compliance with previous intervention efforts.
Exclusionary Criteria:
Current or prior offenses involving force against another person
Current or prior offenses involving carrying, possession, or use of a firearm or dangerous weapon
Current or prior offenses involving death or serious bodily injury to another person
Presence of a severe mental illness (Schizophrenia spectrum, Intellectual/Developmental Disorders)

5. Components of our team Judge Defense attorneys District attorney
Court supervisor
Case manager/parent liaison
Juvenile probation officers
psychologist

6. Role of the judge Presides over each review hearing
Ensures fairness of responses and interventions
Develops a meaningful and personal relationship with each youth and parent
Reinforces sanctions/responses to relapse or non-compliance
Reinforces response/incentives for positive change

7. Role of defense attorneys
Role of District attorneys
Advocate for the safety of the community
Recommend sanctions/responses to non-compliance

8. Role of case manager/parent liaison
Screen all potential candidates for possible participation in the Drug Court Program
Conduct initial interviews with the parents
Prepare referrals to be presented to the team for acceptance
Procure services for youth and families
Provide assistance to families seeking community based resources and government assistance
Provide support for parents/caregivers
Attend Drug Court Review Hearings

9. Role of Juvenile probation officers
Provide intensive supervision of all participants
Minimum of one face to face visit per week
Conduct random urinalysis
Provide written weekly updates to the Drug Court Team
Complete Violation of Probation paperwork should youth commit new offenses or continue non-compliant behavior

10. Role of juvenile probation officer Con’t
Complete Return to Court Summary paperwork should a youth be detained or return to court for new offenses or violations of probation
Conduct Motivational Interviewing with youth to elicit change within the participants
Monitor participant attendance in treatment
Regular communication with the parents
Regular communication with schools to monitor attendance, behavior and grades
Establish a rapport and relationship with the youth and families so that programs can be tailored to the individual

11. Role of the Court Manager
Synchronize the team
Plan and Schedule the Drug Court Docket
Ensure that each participant is assigned a Drug Court Defense Attorney or Assistant Public Defender
Supervise the Juvenile Probation Officers and Parent Partner/Case Manager
Disseminator of Case information to the  team at large
Assist with case planning

12. Role of psychologist
Responsible for the initial clinical assessment of the youth
Ascertain history of, and motivations for, substance use
Ascertain Motivations, readiness, and barriers for change
Dynamics underlying drug use
Discuss past intervention attempts
Develop initial treatment plan based on risks and needs.
Modify treatment plan throughout probation
Work with treatment providers to ensure continuity of care

13. Referrals to the Drug Court
Evaluated by Case Manger/Court Manager
Qualifies with regards to TX State Statutes
District Attorney Policies
History of Drug Use
Assessments
Specific Drug Assessment
Psychological Evaluation
Parent Interview
Psychologist Evaluation
Reviews Assessment
Conducts Clinical Interview
Staffing to Discuss Findings (Psychologist, Probation Staff, Parent Partner)
Recommendation to the DC Team

14. Drug Court Demographics
82 youths have participated in DC Program
Males = Females = 12
Racial Distribution
Black = White = 66
Ethnicity
African America = 16 Anglo = 15 Hispanic = 51
Program Completion
73% Successfully Complete Program
27% Unsuccessful Completion

15. Juvenile Forensic Evaluations

16. Types of Juvenile Forensic Evaluations
Psychological screenings
Full psychological evaluations
Competency/Fitness to Proceed Evaluations
Lack of Responsibility Evaluations
Certification/Juvenile Waiver Evaluations

17. Psychological Screenings
Brief psychological evaluation
Includes abbreviated psychological testing to determine youth’s IQ and academic standing
Addresses presence of mental health problems (if any) and if further evaluation is required
Provides a general overview of youth’s emotional and behavioral functioning to determine:
Treatment needs
Placement recommendations

18. Full Psychological Evaluation
More in depth evaluation that determines youth’s level of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning
Includes IQ, academic, and personality testing
Addresses presence of risk and protective factors and provides release/placement recommendations for the court
Evaluate important characteristics of the youth that are relevant to understanding delinquent conduct
Provide specific treatment recommendations/implications for rehabilitation based on the youth’s needs

19. Competency/ Fitness to Proceed Evaluations
Determine if presence of serious mental illness or intellectual disability impacts youth’s present competence related abilities
Assess if the mental illness impacts youth’s factual understanding of the legal system (adversarial nature, courtroom personnel, consequences, etc.)
Evaluate the youth’s rational understanding of proceedings against him/her
Determine if youth is presently able to consult with his/her lawyer and aid in his/her defense

20. Lack of Responsibility Evaluations
Evaluate presence of serious mental illness or intellectual disability, and if present, how any of these may have directly impacted the youth’s involvement in instant offense
Determine if at the time of the alleged act, the youth, as a result of mental illness or intellectual deficiency, lacked substantial capacity either to:
Appreciate the wrongfulness of the conduct or to conform conduct to the requirements of the law

21. Certification/Juvenile Waiver Evaluations
Factors relevant to certification:
Seriousness of the crime
Sophistication and maturity of the child
Record and previous history
Public safety
Psychological evaluations aid the court in addressing the following factors:
Risk/potential for dangerousness
Sophistication and maturity
Amenability to treatment
Youth’s understanding of legal process/meaning of certification

23. Harris County District Courts Trying Criminal Cases
November, 2015 to October, 2016
Top 10 Felony Disposed Offenses
# of Disposed Cases
% of 37,490 Total Disposed Cases
POSS CS PG 1 <1G
6,387
17.0%
THEFT <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONV
1,383
3.7%
AGG ROBBERY-DEADLY WPN
1,181
3.2%
EVADING ARREST/DETENTION W/VEH
1,139
3.0%
ASSAULT-FAMILY MEMBER
1,118
UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
963
2.6%
AGG ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON
957
POSS CS PG GRAMS
937
2.5%
FELON POSS WPN
893
2.4%
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
779
2.1%
TOTAL
15,737
42.0%
Original Dispositions (not including MAJ and MRP dispositions) Source: JIMS
Report Date: 12/6/2016