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Committed to Helping Those Who Can't Always Help Themselves
The Office of the Public Defender of the
19th Judicial Circuit created a Client Services Program in 1999 to
address the growing needs of offenders. Clients charged with a
misdemeanor or felony offense and have a substance abuse problem,
mental health issue, developmental disability, or who are in need of
life skill training- such as job training, learning to read, or
anger management - may be eligible for services. Additionally, Client
Services assists attorneys with placement for the chronically
mentally ill or developmentally disabled, and develops mitigation
memorandums for juveniles charged in adult court. Client Services
works closely with community agencies to help each client gain the
support needed to remain crime-free.
Client Services works with our attorneys to advocate for our
clients, especially those that may not be able to advocate for
themselves. In any case, Client Services can:
Communicate with client's family and care givers regarding case
status and client's conditions when requested by client.
Develop written sentencing memorandums which are presented to the
Court in appropriate cases.
Advocate at sentencing hearings and during plea negotiations.
MENTAL
HEALTH and DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Screen and identify cases involving serious and persistent mental
health disorders and developmental disabilities issues, which may
involve competence to proceed or sanity.
Prepare appropriate motions and orders related to the appointment of
experts, Incompetence, and Insanity.
Gather records in order to facilitate full and appropriate expert
evaluations.
Cooperate with the State Attorney's Office to dispose of Mental
Health and Developmental Disability cases non-judicially.
Act as a liaison between the Department of Children and Families and
the criminal court system.
Continue to monitor clients who are committed to State Hospital or
placed on conditional release, and act as a liaison between Courts
and treatment providers.
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE
Upon referral from our Attorney or the Court, screen client for
substance abuse issues, desire for treatment, and other needs.
Advise our Attorneys and Courts of programs available and
eligibility.
Assist clients in securing interviews and completing applications
for acceptance to a treatment program.
DIRECT-FILED
JUVENILES
Interview all juveniles with adult felony charges who are
represented by the Public Defender's Office to determine if they may
be eligible for juvenile sanctions or another alternative sentencing
option.
Screen and identify the child's needs, i.e. mental health,
developmental disability, or substance abuse.
Appoint the appropriate experts, if needed.
Gather relevant records to assist our Attorneys in their case
development.
DEATH
PENALTY MITIGATION
Shari Heisey develops mitigation themes to aid our attorneys in the
penalty phase of cases in which the Death Penalty is a possible
sentence.
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Over the years, the Client Services Program has cultivated relationships with many local social service agencies. Therefore, we can refer clients to: |
One-Stop Career Center
Learn to Read
English as a Second Language
Dept. Vocational
Rehab
Prescription Assistance
Homeless Assistance Center
Dept.of Children and Families
Dept.of Develop. Disabilities
Project Response
New Horizons
Client Choice Program
...And many other agencies. |
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Contact Information |
Lisa Fonteyn
Client Services Coordinator
Katie Alonzo, Esq.
Assistant Public Defender
Client Services Specialist
Shari Heisey
Client Services Specialist
Nick Bridendback
Client Services Specialist
1664 SE Walton Road
Suite 203
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
Fax (772) 337- 5692 |
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Come visit Drug Court
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St. Lucie County
Juvenile - Thursday afternoons
court at 3:30 p.m.
Adult - Thursday mornings
court at 10:30 a.m.
Indian River County
Juvenile - Wednesday
court at 3:00 p.m.
Adult - Wednesday
court at 4:30 p.m.
Martin County
Juvenile - Friday afternoons
court at 3:00 p.m.
Adult - Friday mornings
court 10:30 a.m.
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Drug court is a diversionary program
in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, open to
all first time felony offenders, charged with a third degree
felony drug related case. It can also be open
to other types of offenders, as long as the
state attorney recommends it.
In order to enter drug court,
the client must first observe one full session of drug court,
and be evaluated. If he still wishes to enter drug court, he enters
a plea of No Contest to the charges. Sentencing is put off for a period of one to two
years. If he fails to complete drug court, he is sentenced on the
offense. If he successfully completes drug court, the plea is
withdrawn, and the charges dismissed.
There are 3 different type of programs available
within drug court: education, full program, or inpatient.
Education Program
The education program is our easiest program. It consists of an 15
hour education class, 2 AA/NA meetings every week, random
urinalysis, and periodic court appearances (usually one every 1-2
months). This program lasts at least one year, but can go up to two
years. Also, if someone is on the education track, and they later
test positive, they automatically switch over to the full program.
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Full Program
Full Program consists of 3 phases. The first 2 phases are 10 weeks
long each, the last is at least 32 weeks. In the
first phase, the clients must:
attend court weekly
attend one group and one individual counseling session weekly
attend 5 AA/NA meetings weekly
submit to random urinalysis, as well as once a week scheduled
testing.
In the second phase, the clients must:
attend court every other week
attend one group counseling session weekly
attend 3 AA/NA meetings weekly
submit to random urinalysis, as well as once a week scheduled
testing.
In the third phase, the clients must:
attend court monthly
attend after-care counseling
attend 3 AA/NA meetings weekly
submit to random urinalysis, as well as once a week scheduled
testing.
Inpatient Program
Inpatient program includes a residential
treatment program. After discharge from inpatient treatment, the
client must complete the full program. The client may be required to
go into the inpatient program if he repeatedly tests positive on the
full program.
Sanctions within drug court
Drug court is a unique program in how people are punished for not
complying. If someone fails to meet the requirements of drug court,
the judge will issue a sanction immediately. The sanctions can
include being on the "B" team in court (going last), community
service hours, writing and presenting to their
group an essay, jail time, and anything else
appropriate to the offense.
Each court day, the drug court team meets. The
team includes a representative from the Public
Defender's Office, State Attorney’s Office, the drug court
judge and the treatment providers. We talk about
each person individually - what problems or successes they are
experiencing. We also talk about what sanction to impose should
there be a problem. This enables the judge to speak to each person
individually in court, and allows all of us to really get to know
each client.
Failing the program
There are people who eventually fail the program. I have seen four
ways people fail out of drug court. First, they show a complete lack
of interest in the program, by repeatedly not attending counseling
sessions, meetings, or UA testing. Second, they show a complete
inability to remain clean, even after inpatient treatment. Third,
they have decided that they would rather be sentenced than continue
in our program. And fourth, they get a new DUI charge.
Upon failing drug court, the client can be
sentenced to any lawful sentence, which is usually up to 5 years in
prison.
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MHC
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More Information Coming Soon. |
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Please Note: Under Florida law, e-mail
addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail
address released in response to a public records request, do not
send electronic mail to this entity.
Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
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