DUI / Drug Court

The DUI/Drug Court Difference


The Athens DUI/Drug Court provides an opportunity for early treatment intervention that involves enhanced supervision, counseling and treatment for the participant to function in the community with continuing support. The goal is to improve the quality of our participants' lives and reduce repeat offenses to improve community safety. Graduates will have a solid foundation to build upon in order to become productive members of society.

The Athens DUI/Drug Court was originally designed and implemented in February, 2001 in the State Court of Clarke County under the direction of Judge Kent Lawrence. The Solicitor-General endorsed the specialized impaired driving program which was expanded to include Municipal Court offenders. In October 2002, the Program's operational components were enhanced as a result of additional funding from the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

The DUI/Drug Court is a Team concept involving the Judges, the Solicitor-General, Law Enforcement, the local Bar Association, the Public Defender's Office, the Court Coordinator, the Probation Officer, and licensed substance abuse treatment professionals. All Team members work together to support each participant in addressing and combating the substance abuse issues that brought them into the criminal justice system.

The Program's duration is a minimum of 14 months and consists of four phases:

  • Phase I: Extended assessment
  • Phase II: Treatment and early recovery
  • Phase III: Relapse prevention
  • Phase IV: Recovery management
All phases of the DUI/Drug Court Program encompass vocational and educational components in conjunction with providing substance abuse treatment with judicial oversight.

Inclement Weather:

In the case of inclement weather, please check the following for information as to whether the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse or Family Counseling Services are open.

Athens-Clarke County Courthouse - athensclarkecounty.com/statecourt

If the Courthouse is closed, any scheduled status conferences, probation petition hearings, probation appointments, or other matters taking place in the Courthouse will be rescheduled.  

For Holiday Testing Hours, please go to Family Counseling Services between the hours of 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
 
Family Counseling Services- Please call 706-353-2309

Please call the above phone number, and then dial your counselors extension (Rebecca: 260, Cheran: 261). If group, individual appointments, or Check In are being cancelled, there will be a message stating that they are cancelled. If we are open and still having group and/or individual appointment or Check In, there will be no message and you should attend.

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