Drug Court

The Clayton County Drug Court Program strives to reduce recidivism while improving the quality of life for nonviolent, chemically addicted offenders, their family and the community at large. This is done by providing supervision, substance abuse treatment and positive reinforcement through a structured, cost-effective program. It is the goal of the Clayton Drug Court to facilitate inter-agency collaboration by utilizing a multi-disciplinary team approach to ensure public safety.

About the Drug Court Program

The Drug Court is a intensive-probation, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program. To enter the program, participants much must meet eligibility requirements and plead guilty to their current charges, which can not later be expunged from their criminal records. This is true regardless of whether or not they successfully complete the Drug Court. Upon the successful completion of the Drug Court program and a phase of After-Care, the remainder of the participant’s probation sentence is waived.

The Honorable Judge Aaron B. Mason presides over the Clayton County Drug Court. Partner agencies that make the Drug Court work include:

• Clayton Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office
• Clayton Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office
• Georgia Department of Corrections, Morrow Probation Office
• Clayton County Sheriff’s Office
• Clayton County Police Department
• Clayton State University
• The Clayton Center

Program Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria

1. Offender must be charged in Clayton County.
2. Offender must be 18 year of age or older.
3. Offender’s current charge(s) cannot involve a violent or sexual offense nor shall the offender have any violent or sexual offense convictions in the past.
4. The current charge must be nonviolent and drug property related or such as:
   • Forgery or related offenses,
   • Theft related offenses,
   • Possession of controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, or unlawful prescription,
   • Burglary, or
   • Damage to property.
5. Offenders who have no more than two prior felony convictions and/or juvenile adjudications of delinquency.
6. The offender must not have pending felonies in any other jurisdiction.
7. Offenders must not be subject to a sex-offender registration requirement.
8. Offender must have an identifiable substance abuse problem.
9. Offenders must reside in Clayton County
10. Offenders current charge must not involve the possession or use of a dangerous weapon during the commission of the current crime or when arrested for the current crime.
11. Offender must have sufficient emotional stability, mental and intellectual capacity to be capable of participation in the program according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
12. Upon the consent of the Drug Court Team, probation violations on felony cases may be screened for eligibility if the offense for which the person was placed on probation does not otherwise make the person ineligible under the offender eligibility criteria.

Disqualifying Criteria

1. Refusal to cooperate with screening and assessment procedures, or unwillingness to participate in required programming or abide by program rules.
2. Person whose mental health or medical issues would prevent them from being able to actively participate in and complete the program.
3. Offenders charged with any drug offense that involves the sale of controlled substances, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and possession of 28 grams or more of controlled narcotic substances will not be eligible.
4. Offenders with previously severe mental disorders, to include mental retardation, dementia, hallucinations, paranoia, or other personality disorders.
5. Offenders previously terminated from the Clayton County Drug Court.

For More Information

Deborah Boddie
Drug Court Coordinator
Clayton County Superior Court
9151 Tara Boulevard, Suite 2AC01
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Telephone: (770) 347-0181
Fax: (770) 603-5293
Email: deborah.boddie@claytoncountyga.gov