Summary

The Alternative Treatment Court (ATC) is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and various community-based treatment providers and organizations. It is a post-plea, pre-sentence diversion program. The mission of the ATC is to provide an alternative to conviction or imprisonment for certain individuals charged with federal crimes and to provide a blend of treatment that focuses on drug and mental health treatment, alternative sanctions to effectively address offender behavior, rehabilitation, and education and job skills training. The ATC has two tracks, and program participation lasts for 12 to 24 months. Upon successful completion, Track One defendants have their charges dismissed; Track Two defendants receive a term of probation. Potential participants must be individuals whose criminal conduct is believed to be motivated by substance abuse issues, mental health, or other underlying causes that appear to be amenable to treatment through programs available as part of the ATC. As set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding, defendants charged with particular offenses or with a history of violent offenses, are excluded from participating in the ATC.

Resources

The Memorandum of Understanding describes the program overview, the mission statement, legal authority, and sets forth the criteria for participating in the ATC, how participants will be selected, and the responsibilities and expectations of the participating parties.

To seek participation in the program, complete the Referral Form and e-mail the completed form to WVSD_ATC@wvsd.uscourts.gov.

Participants who are accepted into the program will be required to agree and complete the Contract for Participation.