As part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration, St. Johns County Drug Court recently recognized St. Johns County Legal Aid for its service to the court, a judicially-led program for non-violent addicted people with drug-related felony charges who reside within the county.
The program involves regular court appearances before the judge, substance abuse treatment counseling, frequent random drug testing and supervision by probation.
Five years ago, the treatment courts in St. Johns County, which include the Drug Court as well as a Veterans Treatment Court, asked St. Johns County Legal Aid to join their court team.
“The treatment court model was designed with prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, and probation officers, as well as therapeutic counselors for mental health and addiction treatments, but the team was missing the civil legal issues that were holding down their success rates,” said Megan Wall, St. Johns County Legal Aid managing attorney.
Since 2018, St. Johns County Legal Aid has been assisting participants with their civil legal issues. This includes: defending evictions/foreclosures and debt lawsuits; filing bankruptcies as needed; handling paternity and family law cases; assisting with public benefits and disability problems; removing driver’s license and housing barriers; resolving consumer problems, probates; and providing representation at unemployment compensation hearings.
St. Johns County Legal Aid also works with local nonprofit organizations in the community that provide housing, food, medical/dental care, and other services participants may need.
“The treatment court judges say that legal aid was the missing link and the secret sauce that now makes the team whole, with a holistic approach, so that full treatment needs are now covered,” Wall said. “St. Johns County Legal Aid applauds the efforts of these courts because they literally save lives, and do so for half the cost of traditional incarceration approaches.”
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
If you are an attorney wanting to volunteer with probate and heirs property issues, contact JALA Pro Bono Director Aaron Irving, at (904) 356-8371, Ext. 363, or Aaron.Irving@jaxlegalaid.org.
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