MRT in

DRUG COURTS

 

MRT was implemented in drug courts in the early 1990s, essentially at the beginning of the modern drug court movement. MRT is a SAMHSA NREPP registered program. Over 100 drug courts employ MRT as their primary treatment. In drug courts, MRT is either incorporated into the drug treatment elements provided by contracted professionals or by probation/court staff. MRT groups, in which participants present their MRT homework assigned in each MRT step, are typically held once a week. The number of participants in each MRT group associated with drug courts varies between 4 to 15. An MRT-trained facilitator (usually a drug counselor or probation officer) conducts each group meeting according to guidelines outlined in the training. Adult clients in the program each have an MRT workbook — How To Escape Your Prison. Juvenile drug courts utilize the Juvenile MRT—How To Escape Your Prison workbook. Basic MRT has 12 steps, with a general written discussion of each in the workbook, followed by the homework requirements.

 

A specialized MRT workbook is available for VETERANS participating in Drug Courts or Veteran's Courts. The workbook is entitled Winning the Invisible War.

 

Because MRT is objective and every MRT group operates in the same manner, any trained MRT facilitator is able to step in to any MRT group when necessary and continue the group without problems. Every MRT program in drug courts that has collected outcome data has reported significantly lower recidivism and high completion rates. A large amount of data has been collected on drug court implementations of MRT including drug courts that specialized in methamphetamine cases. A Spanish version of the workbook is available along with both Spanish and English versions of the book on audio CDs for participants with poor reading skills.

 

All MRT groups are open-ended. This means that new clients can enter a group at any time and be incorporated into the program. Research shows that MRT works equally well with male and female offenders in drug courts.

 

Training Required:

 

Basic MRT training is required for all MRT facilitators. Call CCI (901) 360-1564 for information.

 

Length of Program/Completion Rate:

 

In drug courts the average (mean) number of group meetings is variable depending on location and the type of drug court. Most drug courts experience a 90+% MRT completion rate within 6-9 months.

 

Other Program Components Typically Used:

 

Drug courts that use MRT often conduct several other cognitive-behavioral programs with their participants based on individual needs. These are:

 

Shoplifting

Relapse Prevention

Character Development

Anger Management

Family Support

Job Readiness

Codependency

Responsible Living

Trauma