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Youth Drug & Alcohol Court If you are interested in participating in this program you may contact one of the following for more information: An Alternative to Traditional Sentencing Grace Zolnosky Evanston Youth Services Coordinator 419 4th Street Evanston, WY 82930 (307) 783-6328 ~ OR~ Gina Sims Case Manager 419 4th Street Evanston, WY 82930 (307) 783-6321 YDAC (Youth Drug & Alcohol Court) Funding provided by the Wyoming State Drug Court Grant obtained by application to the Wyoming Depart- ment of Health, Substance Abuse ---PAGE BREAK--- What is it? The Youth Drug & Alcohol Court Program (YDAC) is an alternative to traditional sentencing for drug or alcohol related crimes. It is a court managed inten- sive treatment program. The program lasts an av- erage of one year in length and is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 17 with evidence of substance use and with pending proceedings in any Uinta County Court. Successful completion of the program gives you an opportunity to avoid a criminal record using Section 7-13-301 W.S. or Section 35-7-1037 W.S., avoid a jail sentence, and to seek an expungement of your criminal record when you turn 18. The YDAC approach differs from the approach of traditional courts, in which the court officers repre- sent and argue different sides of an issue. In drug court programs, the judge, prosecutor, and defense counsel discard adversarial roles. Treatment providers share in rather than direct treatment decisions. In YDAC they are members of a team dedicated to one purpose-helping young people. How do I get involved? At your arraignment the prosecutor may recom- mend that you enter the program or you can tell the judge that you are interested in participating in the program. At this time you will be required to schedule an appointment with the Youth Services Case Manager to talk more about the program and schedule an intake. You will be given a sentencing date that will be a few weeks away so you can complete your intake and ask any questions you and your parents may have about the program. What happens while I wait for my sentencing date? You will be given some pre—sentencing release condi- tions that will govern your conduct while the YDAC Team decides whether you are a candidate for the pro- gram. After your have received your intake and signed all the necessary releases the YDAC Team will meet and determine your require- ments for participation in the program. What will happen at the sentencing or disposition hearing? Once you have been accepted into the program and you have decided to participate, you will need to plead guilty and admit your guilt to the judge. The Judge will then tell you the terms of your YDAC participation. You will be on probation for a maximum term of one year. You will be required to follow all the terms and conditions given to you by the Judge. Your probation will be supervised by the Court and possibly a probation officer. What are some of the basic requirements? You have to agree to be placed upon a strict super- vised probation for your crime. You will be required, at a minimum to: 1. Attend weekly YDAC Hearings held every Wednesday at 4:00 o’clock pm; 2. Attend Youth Recovery Meetings on Monday and Wednesdays; 3. Attend Moral Reconation Therapy or Thinking for Good classes; 4. You will be subject to random testing of your blood, urine, or breath to determine if you have used drugs or alcohol; 5. You will be required to stay in school or keep a job, and maintain a curfew; 6. You will be required to attend a parenting group with a parent or guardian. Will my parents be involved? Yes, absolutely! You and your parents must agree to be active and involved participants in this pro- gram. We hope this program will help your parents better understand what you need to be successful with your problem and we think your chances of success are reduced if your parents are not involved. Will it cost anything? Yes, there will be an initial cost of $100 for administrative fees to pay for paperwork, books, and supplies. If you test positive for drugs or alcohol you will also have to pay $90 after each positive test. We require that all participants re- ceive a substance abuse evaluation you may be required to pay for part or all of the evaluation. If it is recommended that you go to treatment you may have to pay for part or all of your treatment. What if I can’t pay for treatment? The fact is, most people can find a way to pay for treatment. YDAC will help you explore possible payment alternatives. Often your family’s private health insurer covers all or part of treatment. If you are uninsured, Wyoming CHIPS may cover all or part of treatment and most treatment providers charge using a sliding scale that takes into account your family’s ability to pay. Drug Court recognizes that, with juveniles, alcohol and drug abuse or addiction is more than a crime...Best case, it’s a road block to success...Worst case, it is a disease. YDAC can help! But the first step starts with you. Questions & Answers about Youth Drug & Alcohol Court...