Ionia Treatment and Sobriety Court (ITASC)
The mission of the 64-A District Court ITASC program is to enhance public safety by providing a judicially supervised treatment program to drunk driving offenders to return sober, law-abiding citizens to our community, and thereby closing the “revolving door” to the criminal justice system. ITASC attempts to meet the needs of participants convicted of either a misdemeanor or felony drunk-driving offense. One goal is to reduce the recidivism among this population by resolving dependency on substances and anti-social conduct as primary coping skills. This can be accomplished through substance-use disorder treatment, frequent drug testing for accountability, and close supervision.
Joseph Marsden is the ITASC Program Coordinator. Joseph can be reached at (616) 527-5396 for further information regarding the ITASC Program.
Veterans’ Court for Treatment and Recovery of Ionia (VCTRI)
The mission of the Veterans’ Court for Treatment and Recovery of Ionia is to prevent recidivism through an intensive court-structured treatment and recovery program designed specifically for active, reserve, Guard, or post-active military service members whose physical and or/physiological injuries from service contribute to criminal behaviors. The target population is high risk/high need individuals charged with non-violent, adult felony or misdemeanor offenses in the jurisdictional area of the VCTRI program. Participants must be veterans experiencing mental health difficulties because of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and/or other psychological and physical disorders requiring treatment.
Michael Beach is the VCTRI Program Coordinator. Michael can be reached at (616) 527-5395 for further information regarding the VCTRI Program.
Domestic Violence Prevention Project (DVPP)
The DVPP offers counseling to offenders as an alternative to jail time. It is a highly structured, phased program lasting about 18 to 24 months, including early identification of offenders, screening, psychological assessments, referrals to community counseling providers, judicial monitoring, community supervision, substance use disorder testing, incentives and sanctions, and alumni groups.
Michael Beach is the DVPP Program Coordinator. Michael can be reached at (616) 527-5395 for further information regarding the DVPP Program.
Problem-Solving Court Transfer Information
In accordance with MCL 600.1088, 64A District Court requires a memo of understanding to be fully executed for all eligible incoming and outgoing ITASC or VCTRI transfers. We require all transfers to occur prior to sentencing.
- Incoming transfers: the defendant must be pre-screened by the 64A District Court Program Coordinator and if found eligible, a memo of understanding would be drafted by the 64A District Court.
- Outgoing transfers: the defendant must be pre-screened by the receiving court and if found eligible, a memo of understanding would need to be drafted by the receiving court and sent to the corresponding 64A District Court Program Coordinator to coordinate signatures.
