It offers an alternative to traditional court prosecution involving incarceration without rehabilitation or drug treatment programs. Only defendants charged with a misdemeanor use or a possession case qualify. Defendants who plead guilty and have no record of violence are screened for viability and appropriateness. The program lasts one year, and consists of three phases. Phase One involves intensive intervention through outpatient or inpatient community-based treatment that includes crisis intervention, relapse prevention, and educational classes as appropriate.
Participants are subject to monitoring through drug tests and weekly court appearances.
Phase Two maintains regularly structured treatment and includes the development of an employment or education training program. Phase Three involves continued monitoring of progress combined with the development of an aftercare plan. Successful completion of each phase results in graduation, and court dismissal of charges against the participant. Caseworkers for the program are drawn from college graduates who volunteer in the program for one year and receive a small stipend on which to live. Caseworkers work with teachers and, wherever possible, families to ensure that participating youth are succeeding in school and receiving appropriate support.