Changing Lives, One Day at a Time
The Honorable Guy Flowers Presiding Judge
The DeSoto Case Management Court has been in operation since 2018. DeSoto’s Case Management Court includes principles and treatment methods associated with our state’s existing Veterans, Drug, DUI, Mental Health, and “Turn Your Life Around” or “TYLA” Treatment Courts to provide treatment to those that would most benefit, while also conserving and most efficiently utilizing the court’s limited resources by placing these Courts under one umbrella.
The Case Management Court serves participants struggling with addiction, serious mental illness, and co-occurring disorders. The goal of the Court is to reduce recidivism, and promote sobriety, recovery, stability and accountability for all of its participants through a coordinated response that involves cooperation and collaboration with the many partners of the Criminal Justice System.
While no problem solving court can guarantee success for every participant, treatment courts, statewide, have shown to be highly effective in reducing long-term recidivism and increasing long-term stability when compared to traditional criminal justice approaches. Our goal for each participant is that they may return to their community and family as accountable and productive members, creating a win-win situation for both the participant and the community.
To participate in the Case Management Court program, potential clients must be charged with a non-violent felony or any misdemeanor and have a substance abuse problem, potential mental health issue (may be undiagnosed), or a co-occurring disorder. Potential participants will not be permitted to enter the program if they have been charged or convicted for the sale of illegal drugs. Potential participants with convictions that involve violence that occurred 10 or more years ago, misdemeanor charges involving violence, or non-violent charges involving victims may be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with Marsy’s Law.
Potential participants are carefully screened by the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Case Management Court treatment staff for eligibility. If accepted, the participant must sign a treatment contract with the Court and, depending on the agreed resolution, enter a plea to the charged offense.
The Desoto County Case Management Court is a five-phase program designed to be completed within 6-18 months, depending on the participant’s charge(s). However, the length of time in the program is dependent upon a participant’s compliance and participation.
Initially, participants must attend court bi-weekly where the judge reviews their progress. Participants will be required to attend individual and group counselling, AA/NA meetings, and submit to regular random drug screening. Further, each participant will be given specially tailored requirements clinically designed for their success. As participants progress in the program, participants are provided additional opportunities for individual recovery. Throughout the program, a participant’s successes are rewarded and sanctions are given for a participant’s failure to abide by the program’s requirements. Sanctions are determined by the judge and are tailored to the Participant’s needs. Sanctions range from therapeutic sanctions to jail sanctions.
Entrance into the Desoto Case Management Court may occur in various ways: