ABOUT
Adult Specialty Treatment Court programs were designed over thirty years ago to address the unique challenge of reducing substance use relapse and criminal recidivism among persons charged with or convicted of a crime. This concept of breaking the cycle of relapse and recidivism was brought to St. Charles Parish in 2000 when the 29th Judicial District Court launched its own adult specialty treatment court program.
From its inception, the St. Charles Parish Drug Court has focused on providing substance abuse treatment services to eligible individuals on probation. The program has evolved with promulgated best practice standards for specialty treatment courts. Beyond substance abuse treatment services, the 29th Judicial District Court recognizes the importance of housing security, food security, transportation, and the education and vocational needs in the success of program participants. In recent years, the St. Charles Parish Drug Court program has implemented processes to support its participants in accessing resources to address those needs.
While remaining focused on the original mission to provide a safer community, reduce the social costs related to substance use, and to aid in rehabilitation of substance using offenders, the St. Charles Parish Drug Court now provides outpatient individual and group treatment, medical referrals, social functioning assistance, access to community resources, and abstinence from substance use monitoring to eligible non-violent probationers. The program’s three phase approach is designed to assist in stabilization, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention, and continuing care. The program guides its participants toward a life without substance use, connects them with services, and aids in repairing community relations so they can continue on this path even after they successfully complete the program.
PROGRAM FORMS
St. Charles Parish Drug Court
Drug Court Welcomes Stephanie Hebert as New Coordinator
After over twenty-five years of service to the 29th Judicial District Court, Ms. Cristina is retiring. Jackie Cristina has served as the program coordinator of the St. Charles Parish Drug Court since its inception. Additionally, Ms. Cristina has served as the Judicial Administrator for the 29th Judicial District Court. In her role as coordinator, Ms. Cristina’s efforts have been integral to the drug court program’s success. Hundreds and hundreds of court-involved people have achieved recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction during her tenure. The benefits to our community have been drug free babies delivered, lives redeemed, families restored, and reduced recidivism.
Ms. Cristina’s tireless dedication and extraordinary skills have been primary factors for St. Charles Parish Drug Court’s tremendous success. It has long been regarded as one of the best drug court programs in the state. Additionally, Ms. Cristina has been a leader in the Louisiana Association of Drug and Specialty Courts for many years. As LADSC President in 2022, Ms. Cristina led the organization out of the COVID pandemic by producing one of the most lauded state conferences in its history. Her contributions to our drug court program and the state association of drug and specialty courts have been exemplary.
Stephanie Hebert will begin her tenure as program coordinator of the St. Charles Parish Drug Court on Friday, February 17, 2023. Ms. Hebert has been with the 29th Judicial District Court since 2016. Over the past five years, she has been a member of the drug court team as an assistant to the drug court coordinator.
We are deeply grateful for Ms. Cristina’s contributions to our Court and wish her a long, healthy, and happy retirement. We are also looking forward to Ms. Hebert’s service as drug court coordinator and are confident the program will maintain its standards for excellence under her administration.