If you or a loved one has been arrested for a drug-related crime, the good news is that you may not have to go to prison.
Today, an estimated 86% of all arrests are made based on drug or alcohol-related charges. In an attempt to reduce recidivism and further crimes, the United States is investing more and more in providing rehabilitation and therapy or treatment services to those cases. This means that you may qualify to receive intensive outpatient treatment as an alternative to jailtime following an arrest.
At Compassion Recovery, we work closely with the court system to ensure that we provide an intensive outpatient program that fully meets the needs of the court. In addition, we ensure that we stay in network with all major insurance providers, ensuring you receive the therapy you need for a minimum out-of-pocket cost.
Court-ordered rehab is an option for individuals who have committed non-violent drug and alcohol-related crimes. Here, you can opt to go to a regular court and potentially be sentenced to rehab. Alternatively, you can plead guilty upfront and go to a drug court, where you are almost guaranteed to go to a rehab program instead of to jail.
Court-ordered rehab is primarily intended to relieve the burden on the prison system by redirecting qualifying people into treatment programs rather than punitive ones. This means that you attend rehab for a period determined by your case worker, continue to get follow-ups, and ensure that you’re working to improve life.
Court-Ordered Rehab – Your lawyer may request that you go to rehab instead of to jail during sentencing. You aren’t guaranteed this option. You’ll be sentenced to 28-days to 6+ months of intensive outpatient or outpatient treatment followed by mandatory AA participation.
Drug Court – You plead guilty upfront, waive due-process rights, submit to drug and alcohol testing, and consent to long-term monitoring over the program. From there, you will go to a 28-90 day outpatient program, which may be extended at the judgement of your social or case worker.
A case worker is assigned to you, you’ll get to know them and will typically work with them for a year or more
The case worker will assess your mental and physical health, run drug and alcohol testing, and make recommendations for treatment
You’ll move into an inpatient or outpatient program typically 30-90 days long, but up to 6 months in duration
You’ll check in with your social worker throughout the program. They will ensure that you continue going to treatment and that you continue to pass random drug and alcohol screening
You’ll be moved into follow-up treatment, typically via self-help groups with aftercare
You may be asked to move into sober living
If you fail your court ordered treatment, you’ll typically have to go to jail and face the full sentence. However, if you attend the full program and still can’t stop drinking or using, you may be recommended into an inpatient program first.
Almost all court ordered rehab is delivered via an outpatient format. That’s typically because outpatient care offers the lowest cost for results. However, it’s not right for everyone. Outpatient care is a best-fit for individuals with a light to moderate substance abuse problem. However, if you have a history of failed substance abuse intervention or have a heavy addiction, your treatment program may move you into an inpatient program instead.
However, intensive outpatient programs are highly effective, while minimizing costs to the people being ordered to take them. That’s important, because you are responsible for paying for your own treatment.
Intensive outpatient programs allow you to go to a clinic or rehab center for treatment on a daily basis while still spending time at your home or work. Here, you:
Live and sleep in your own home
Attend 4-6 hours of therapy and treatment per day
Have daily check-ins
May have a medication assisted treatment (MAT) program for opioid use or alcohol abuse
See clinicians daily
May attend treatment in the evenings if you work
Intensive outpatient takes up most or all your free time in the day if you work. This means you’ll be in treatment just as much as you would during an inpatient program. However, you’ll go home after, you’ll arrange for your own meals, and you’ll have the freedom to continue work, childcare, or other obligations.
In most cases, you’ll have to work with your social worker to choose a court-approved program. That typically includes any program that your insurance has approved, meaning you’ll normally be able to choose from any intensive outpatient programs in the court’s jurisdiction and in your insurance provider’s network. However, some courts will direct you into a specific program instead. Therefore, you’ll have to discuss options with your social worker before committing to a specific rehab.
You can choose to attend court ordered rehab if you:
If that’s your profile, you should be automatically recommended into court ordered IOP instead of to jail. However, you may have to discuss options with your lawyer and have them ask for it instead.
You are responsible for paying for your own IOP. However, your insurance provider will cover some or all of the costs. Depending on your insurance plan, you can expect to pay 10-50% of total costs for your IOP. Some providers also charge a flat rate of $30-$60 per day although others will cap costs at $360 per day.
Therefore, you’ll have to check your insurance provider to see what they cover. If you’re going to an intensive outpatient program with Compassion Recovery, we are in network for most major insurance providers in the United States. This means you’ll get maximum coverage under your plan level, which is usually:
Bronze Plan – You pay 40%
Silver Plan – You pay 30%
Gold Plan – You pay 20%
Platinum Plan – You pay 10%
Often, that works out to actual out of pocket costs starting from about 50%. In addition, you’ll have to factor your deductible into the total cost. Your social worker will typically talk to you about payment options and may also help you to apply for grants or other assistance if you can’t meet those costs out of pocket.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a drug or alcohol related non-violent crime, chances are high that you can go to a court ordered intensive outpatient program. In Orange County, Compassion Recovery is a go-to treatment provider, as we work with courts, are in-network for all major insurance providers, and have a history of delivering quality, patient-informed care. If you’d like to learn more, call us at 909-314-1097.
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