"It changes lives, Drug Court is collaborative vs. adversarial. The goal is changing this person's life." Says Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Strophy.
Judge Richard Strophy

The Thurston County Drug Court Program is a Court-Supervised Drug Treatment Program available to eligible non-violent drug and property felony offenders. The overall purpose is to break the "revolving door" cycle of drugs and crime, and to support participants to achieve total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. The program is designed to promote responsibility and accountability and to teach the participants to become productive member in the community.

Drug Court Community Goals/Benefits:

• Reduce the revolving door of crime and drugs by providing treatment to drug addicted criminal offenders

• Require strict accountability from program participants through frequent in-person court hearings and intensive monitoring

• Abstain from alcohol and drug use

• Reduce hospital and medical costs

• Reduce Domestic Violence

• Reduce property crimes

• Support completion of education and vocational training

• Increase levels of employment

• Decrease use of public assistance

• Ease court jail and prison overcrowding and costs

Eligibility Criteria and Admission:

• Persons may be eligible for the program if they were arrested for non-violent felony drug offense and/or a non-violent property offense.

• The Deputy Prosecuting Attorney determines eligibility based upon current/pending and prior charges.

• An attorney from the Office of Assigned Counsel advises the offenders of their options.

• The judge asks them if they want to be considered for the Drug Court Program.

• If the defendant chooses the Drug Court option, the Drug Court Program Administrator interviews them.

• If accepted into the Program, they must sign a Contract to participate and receive a Program Handbook.

• An appointment is scheduled for them to meet with the Treatment Provider for an Intake/Assessment and their initial Treatment Plan.

• They are assigned to a primary counselor and are given a baseline urinalysis test and treatment a schedule.

• Participants return to Court for progress review hearings before the Drug Court Judge.

Graduation Requirements:

• Completion of all Phase Requirements 

• 6 Months of Drug/Alcohol Abstinence

• Full Payment of all Fees

• 4 Months Full/Half Time Job/School

• Obtain GED or High School Diploma

Thurston County Drug Court Contact

Ellen Goodman
Drug Court Program Administrator
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
360-456-7575
1-800-332-0465