Therapeutic Courts

Family Recovery Court

In 1999 Pierce County Superior Court partnered with Pierce County Alliance to begin the Family Recovery Court. The court was developed to specifically focus on families who have a current dependency case and children are under the purview of the state due to their parent’s drug and alcohol dependency.  Highlights of the program include:

• The program is a 12-month program. 
• The goal of this program is to reunify children with their parents by providing substance use treatment, drug testing, job training, parenting education, peer support, visitation specialists and medication assisted treatment (MAT).  
• The program currently has over 50 participants and has had over 400 graduates.  

For more information about Family Recovery Court, please contact any of the following individuals involved in Family Recovery Court:

Ward, Mary C., Assistant Attorney General: [email protected] 

McGuire, Holly Jo, Family Recovery Court Coordinator: [email protected] 

Kellie Clifton, Defense Counsel (DAC): [email protected] 

Catherine Guza, Defense Counsel (OPD): [email protected] 

Eric Pickett, Guardian ad Litem (GAL): [email protected]

Pam Clouser, Therapeutic Court Supervisor: [email protected]

Felony Mental Health Court

Pierce County Felony Mental Health Court began in 2015 and was funded by Optum.  The program initially planned to serve 40 participants.  In 2017 the program was approved to increase and serve 80 participants. The program is designed to treat felony defendants with a chronic mental illness causing their criminal behavior.   Pierce County Superior Court partners with Greater Lakes Mental Health Agency to provide a Forensic Assertive Community Team (FACT).  The FACT team provides 24/7 mental health services, medication management, 1:1 weekly therapy, substance abuse treatment, regular UA’s, peer support and housing assistance. The program is a minimum of 18 months to graduate. Every referred case is reviewed on an individual basis by the treatment team and the prosecuting attorney for amenability.  Successful graduates may have their charges dismissed or will receive an exceptional sentence allowing the individual to remain in the community.  At the end of 2019, the court had 64 participants, 56 graduates and 7 recidivists since its inception.

For more information, please review the 

Felony Mental Health Court Participant Handbook. 

Forms:

Felony Mental Health Court Referral Form

Assisted Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Program

Pierce County Superior Court partnered with Comprehensive Life Resources to begin the Assisted Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment (AOBHT) pilot program in July of 2018. The program was initially funded by Optum.  The AOBHT program delivers community based mental health services under a court supervision to individuals with severe mental illness who have demonstrated difficulty adhering to prescribed treatment on a voluntary basis. Participants in the program receive services through an Assertive Community Team.  The Treatment team provides wrap around community services to include; 1:1 therapy, medication management and monitoring, peer support specialists, housing assistance and case management.  The program has had 7 graduates since inception.

Pierce County Superior Court

Click here to Email the Therapeutic Court Supervisor

253-798-2988

Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC)
Phone# 253-798-6062
Link to DAC Webpage

Prosecuting Attorney
Phone# 253-798-7400
Link to Prosecuting Attorney's Webpage

Pierce County Alliance (PCA)
Treatment Provider for Drug Court
Phone# 253-572-4750
Link to PCA

Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare

Felony Mental Health Court Treatment Provider.

Link to Greater Lakes

Comprehensive Life Resources

Assisted Outpatient Treatment Court Treatment Provider

Link to Comprehensive Life Resources

Helpful Links
RCW 2.30.030
National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP)