The marion county (FLORIDA) diversion drug court is a pre-plea felony and misdemeanor adult drug court which will serve about 60 new participants per year (240 total over 4 years)

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $1,000,000 Treatment Court Discretionary Grant (CFDA 16.585) to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners in Ocala, Florida. The grant will support the Marion County Diversion Drug Court, a pre-plea felony and misdemeanor adult drug court program that aims to serve approximately 60 new participants per year (240 total over 4 years). The key objectives are to enhance evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, provide payment assistance for treatment and recovery support services, assist participants in obtaining safe housing, and deliver additional training for the drug court team. Expected outcomes include increased participation in treatment and recovery services, education for the court team, and evaluation products. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2028.

The target population is adults who have a substance use disorder or dependency and are at substantial risk for reoffending according to risk and needs tools and tobacco, alcohol, prescription medication and other substance use assessment tools. Defendants must also meet statutory charge eligibility to participate. All types of medication-assisted treatment are available and permitted if determined to be clinically beneficial. No participant is denied access to the program due to use of U.S. Food and drug administration approved, medically prescribed medications for treatment of substance use disorder or medical or mental illnesses. Marion county diversion drug court goals include reducing recidivism and overdose and improving public safety and quality of life. The purpose of the application is to enhance evidence-based treatment provided by the court in the following areas: payment assistance for treatment (including individual, group, intensive outpatient, residential treatment, and medication-assisted treatments and recovery support and prevention services; assisting participants in obtaining safe housing quickly (payment assistance for recovery housing, and sober living facilities); and providing the drug court team with additional training through bureau of justice assistance approved conferences. Misdemeanor participants serve a minimum of 6 months but no more than 12 months, while felony participants serve a minimum of 1 year and no more than 18 months based on statute. Expected outcomes include increased participation in substance use treatment and recovery support services for participants; education for the court team; and evaluation products including presentations at steering committee meetings, academic conferences, and peer-reviewed articles.