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May is National Treatment Court Month
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From left to right: Whitney Flood (Treatment Court Coordinator), Marsha Johnson (Probation & Parole), Madison Bezik (Recovery Coach), Miranda Muchow (Treatment Court Graduate), Brenda Albertson (Treatment Court Counselor), Kristina Lee (Addiction Counselor), Anna Cheeseman (Probation & Parole), Judge Faun Phillipson, Assistant District Attorney Matt Lantta, Attorney Jane Krueger Smith (State Public Defender’s Office), Officer Scott Fields (Monroe Police Dept.)

By Judge Faun M. Phillipson

Green County Circuit Court, Branch 1

MONROE — Pictured here are members of the Green County Treatment Court team, and recent graduate Miranda Muchow. Ms. Muchow appears to glow from the inside, and she has worked hard to achieve it: she has been clean and sober for more than 500 consecutive days, works three part-time jobs, is an active member of her church and has developed a close network of supportive family and friends. 

Green County’s Adult Drug Court was established in 2017. The program has since expanded to accept clients with alcohol-related offenses, and is now known as Green County Adult Hybrid Treatment Court (or “Treatment Court,” for short). The target population includes adult residents of Green and Lafayette Counties with substance abuse issues related to their criminal charges. 

Participation in the program is voluntary, and the responsibilities and obligations of the participants are substantial. Each participant is referred to the Treatment Court Coordinator and also is assigned a Department of Corrections agent for case planning and monitoring accountability. The Green County Treatment Court is a highly structured program with five phases. Each phase consists of specific requirements for transition into the next phase. The components of each phase include judicial interaction, supervision, AODA and mental health counseling, case management, individual and group counseling, homework, drug and alcohol testing and community service. 

The goal is to enhance public safety by reducing repeat drug and alcohol-related offenses through evidence-based treatment, counseling and services, combined with requirements of legal accountability and pro-social community involvement. 

Treatment Court is held every Wednesday at the Green County Justice Center, in the Branch 1 Courtroom from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The Treatment Court team consists of the Green County Human Services AODA Supervisor, Treatment Court Coordinator, Counselors, Recovery Coaches, Department of Corrections — Probation & Parole, Monroe Police Department, Green County Sheriff’s Office, Treatment Court Judge, and counsel from both the Office of the State Public Defender and District Attorney’s Office, as well as a liaison from Lafayette County’s Human Services Department.