Sobriety Court Judge: Hon. Jason C. Bomia
Case Managers: Zachary Knaus and Erin Lindsay

Mission Statement

The mission of the 10th District Sobriety Court is to take an active role in promoting the safety and well-being of our community by recognizing alcoholism and drug dependence as a disease, drunk/drugged driving as a destructive choice, and offering a court-supervised treatment program to those is need.  Sobriety Court accomplishes our mission through education, intensive treatment and strict court supervision.  Our mission is driven by our community's need for public safety, accountability, education, rehabilitation, reduced victimization, cost effectiveness, a commitment to a substance-free life, and to break generational cycles.

Goals

Sobriety Court has three main goals:
1. To break the generational cycle of alcohol abuse in families;
2. To enhance public safety by reducing drunk/drugged driving; and
3. To demand accountability from participants through enhanced court supervision

Eligibility Criteria

1. Calhoun County resident (non-residents will be considered on a case- by-case basis based on ability to meet program requirements.
2. Currently charged with a misdemeanor alcohol/drug related driving offense.
3. Have previously been charged with or convicted of an alcohol/drug related driving offense, or a driving offense where alcohol/drugs were a factor.
4. Not presently charged with, or have a pattern of assaultive (juvenile or adult) behavior, the  carrying/possessing/use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or criminal sexual conduct.

Program Structure

Sobriety Court is a four phase program.  Each phase has specific requirements that all participants must meet.  One of the most significant requirements is substance abuse treatment.  Advancement to the next phase is based on a participant's compliance with program requirements and number of days sober in their current phase. Every participant is assigned a probation case manager and must appear either bi-weekly or monthly (depending on what phase they are in) before the Sobriety Court Judge.  Prior to every court review, the Sobriety Court Review Committee, made up of the Judge, case managers, a prosecuting attorney, a defense attorney, a treatment provider, a judicial enforcement division officer and the Sobriety Court Coordinator, meet to discuss every participant's compliance or lack of compliance with program requirements.  The Sobriety Court Review Committee recommends to the Judge whether a participant will receive a positive performance review or a sanction for lack of compliance.  Everything discussed in the Sobriety Court Review Committee team meeting is confidential.  Every participant's privacy is protected.

Problem-Solving Courts

Drug treatment courts started in the late 1980s in response to a firmly held belief that the traditional criminal justice system was not successfully handling drug related cases.  This belief spread to other types of cases involving drunk driving, family abuse and mental health.  Today there are problem-solving courts to treat juveniles as well as adults.  Drug courts, sobriety courts, veterans treatment courts and mental health treatment courts are successfully providing individuals with the tools to change their lives.  The success of problem-solving comes from mixing strict court supervision with intense treatment and participant accountability.  At first, Sobriety Court will most likely seem restrictive and overwhelming, but as a participant gains tools and develops skills, those feelings will lessen.  Research proves that problem-solving courts are successful.  For more information on problem-solving courts visit: www.allrise.org

Links

Michigan's Problem-Solving Court: Solving Problems Saving Lives
National Association of Drug Court Professionals:  All Rise
ABC News - Matthew Perry Comes Clean