AHP assisted in the successful delivery of the session for the 2023 COSSAP National Forum Session: SOAR-ing into Recovery: Bridging the Gap in Alternative to Incarceration Programs for Low-level Felony Drug Offenders.
Presenters:
Molly Roffers-Susa, MS, Special Programs Coordinator, Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Caitlin Weihing, MS, Crime Data Analysis, Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Winnebago County, Wisconsin, has utilized diversion programs and a drug court since 2006; however, the county lacked intervention strategies for low-level drug offenders arrested for felony possession charges. The Stimulant and Opioid Addiction Recovery (SOAR) Program was created to bridge this gap and offer programming for individuals ineligible for either a standard diversion or drug court. While developing the program, the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office (WCDAO) found very few existing examples in the state of Wisconsin, including a complete lack of programming for individuals struggling with stimulant addiction. With the rise in fentanyl-laced stimulants, the WCDAO aims to provide any available treatment services to offenders struggling with opioid and/or stimulant addiction. The program operates in two phases: Phase I requires 90 consecutive days of sobriety in a drug monitoring program for possible case dismissal. If unsuccessful in Phase I, participants may move to Phase II for a formal diversion program with the WCDAO. The SOAR Program requires multiple interdepartmental collaborations including the WCDAO, the Winnebago County Department of Human Services Office, Unity Recovery Services, Winnebago County Circuit Courts, and the local public defender’s office. After almost 2 years, the WCDAO has had 36 individuals successfully complete Phase I and 1 individual successfully complete Phase II. After an initial 1-year analysis, the formal diversion in Phase II underwent a complete restructuring to better serve this population. Program modifications include group check-ins for participant accountability, written assignments and volunteer work as sanctions for noncompliance, and formal treatment plans with attainable goals that participants have a hand in creating.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify steps for creating and implementing alternative-to-incarceration programs for individuals with a substance use disorder who are currently in the criminal justice system.
2. Establish connections with local peer recovery groups to expand services in individual areas.
3. Create a data infrastructure to accurately track program participants for the purpose of program evaluation and recidivism studies.
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