About Problem Solving Courts

The four phase program consists of intensive supervision of clients by a probation officer, frequent appearances before the Problem Solving Court judge, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, regular attendance at self-help groups (AA or NA), and random drug testing. When competencies are achieved for a particular phase, the defendant will become eligible to advance to the next phase. Phase IV places an emphasis on 12-step meeting participation, alumni attendance, and continued sobriety maintenance.

The program length, which is determined by the participant’s progress, will not be less than 15 months. Defendants may be requested to submit to a polygraph, voice stress test, or any other testing as deem appropriate. Upon graduation, participation in the alumni group is recommended and encouraged.

Following graduation, at the discretion of the Problem Solving Court team, you may be placed on formal/informal probation for a period of time to be determined by the Problem Solving Court team.

How to Access a Problem Solving Court

A referral into the Problem Solving Court program may be made by your attorney, the prosecuting attorney, the judge, your probation officer, or your treatment provider. Following legal, clinical, and probation LSI (Level of Service Inventory) screening, your application for acceptance into the Problem Solving Court program will be submitted to a staffing team for acceptance or denial. If accepted into the Problem Solving Court program, your public defender or private attorney may continue to represent you, in a non-adversarial manner, during your participation in the program. Under most circumstances, you will be required to plead guilty and be sentenced before participating in Problem Solving Court program. You will not be allowed to withdraw your guilty plea if you are terminated or withdraw from the Problem Solving Court program.

For an application click the link below:

http://www.co.bonneville.id.us/images/PDF/Wood/PSCApplicationRevisedJuly2015.pdf