The north carolina 8TH judicial district is seeking category 1-planning and implementation funds in the amount of $700,000 for a post-conviction adult accountability and recovery court (AARC)

In this priority 1(a) proposal, AARC addresses inequities and barriers to equal opportunities and the accessibility of services for 8TH judicial district underserved and marginalized populations who have criminal charges influenced by substance use(PG.4). Currently families experiencing substance use are served in the 8TH judicial district family accountability and recovery court (FARC), however, criminal charges linked to substance use have presented ongoing concerns. According to the 2020 NC judicial branch felony and misdemeanor activity reports, 20% of the 1645 criminal charges within the 8TH judicial district were connected to alcohol or drug offenses, and 57% of district probation violations were associated to substance use. With the 8TH judicial district being a rural region that ranks as "tier 1" among the state's forty most economically distressed counties in NC, implementation of AARC will provide the ability to cover a vast array of needs within our district composition of wayne, lenoir and greene counties. Utilizing nadcp's adult drug court best practice standards to serve those identified as "moderate-high risk, high need"(standard I -PGS. 3,7,8, II-1,4,7,8,9, III-13,14, IV-13,14, V-4,6,7,8,12,15, appendix a-3,6,11, VI-4,6,10,14, VII-4,6,VIII-5,8,10,14,16,18, IX-20, and X-17,18,19), AARC will apply a collaborative effort of coordination of the services for each participant. Participants will enter AARC voluntarily and staff screenings will guide the development of individualized plans of services including: drug screenings, comprehensive clinical assessments, treatment, mat, transportation, housing, employment, peer support services, family support services, and judicial support while under probationary supervision. Upon successful program completion, participants will be eligible for charge dismissal/expunction. AARC's five phase program may last 14-18 months, with an average of 16 months. AARC anticipates serving 25 participants per year (100 during the grant cycle). AARC will be judicially managed by judge elizabeth heath