The mission of the Washington County Adult Recovery Court (ARC) is to change people's lives, break the cycle of addiction, reunite families, and promote community safety.
ARC is a collaborative effort involving the Circuit Court, DA’s Office, Community Corrections, the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, the defense bar, and the Washington County treatment community and treatment programs. The focus of ARC is select defendants who have committed drug and drug-related property crimes, who are facing the prospect of a prison sentence, and who have previously tried and failed to complete drug treatment. Participants must either be a resident of or have significant connections to Washington County and be supervised by Washington County Community Corrections.
Since its inception in 2005 through 2023, the Washington County Adult Recovery Court has graduated 243 participants and paid back over $253,000 in restitution to victims. The participants and graduates had over 5,600 months (over 466 years) in state prison sentences deferred, and over 6,600 days (over 18 years) in county jail sentences deferred. With incarceration costs between $82.00 and $102.00 per day, the Washington County Adult Recovery Programs has saved roughly $14 million in Oregon tax dollars and has helped maintain public safety in Washington County. Additionally, ARC graduates are less likely to commit additional crimes and have a lower recidivism rate that those who do not graduate from the ARC program.
Eligibility Requirements
The following eligibility criteria provide guidance regarding who may qualify for ARC. In exceptional circumstances, the ARC team retains the ability to make case by case exceptions to these guidelines.
Eligible Defendants
The following defendants are presumptively eligible for ARC:
- Defendants charged with non-person class C felony charges with a presumptive DOC sentence of more than one year, or
- Defendants whose probation is revoked with the prospect of a presumptive DOC sentence of more than one year.
Presumptively Not Eligible
The following defendants are presumptively not eligible for ARC, but may be subject to review by the ARC and Justice Reinvestment Program (JRP) teams:
Current Offense:
- Reckless Endangering Another Person
- Robbery in the Third Degree
- Delivery of Controlled Substance level 8 or below
- Manufacturing of Controlled Substance level 8 or below
- Possession of Controlled Substance level 6
- Burglary in the First Degree (level 7 and select level 8 depending upon facts of the case)
- Aggravated Theft in the First Degree
- Aggravated Identity Theft
- Non-Domestic violence Assault in the fourth degree and Menacing
- Resist Arrest
- Robbery in the Second Degree
- Assault in the Second Degree
Criminal History:
- Felony weapon convictions
- Person felony convictions
- Person misdemeanor convictions
- Conviction for Robbery in the Second Degree or Assault in the Second Degree
- Prior participation in similar specialty court program to Washington County's IRISS, FSAP, Veteran Treatment Court, or Adult Recovery Court programs
Not Eligible
The following defendants are not eligible for ARC:
Current Offense:
- Measure 11 offenses (including attempts), except those described in "presumptively not eligible" category above
- Person crime offenses as defined by OAR 213-003-0001(14)(15), except those described in "presumptively not eligible" category above
- Cases involving providing of controlled substances to minors
- DUII
- Cases involving child support payments
- Defendant associated/involved with a gang or criminal enterprise
- Substantial quantity drug offenses level 9 or above
- Commercial drug offense with factor including firearm, weapon, manufacturing paraphernalia, or constructed fortification or security measures.
- Charges involving firearms or explosive devices
Criminal History:
- Measure 11 offenses (except Robbery 2 and Assault 2, which are in the "presumptively not eligible" category above)
- Sex offenses
- Any felony involving the use or threatened use of a firearm
- Unlawful possession of destructive device
Success Stories
Brian Ward
On March 12, 2018, Brian Ward became the 200th successful graduate of Washington County’s award winning Drug Court program. Ward, who entered Drug Court almost three years ago, will leave the criminal justice system clean and sober and ready to make a new start.
Steven Youngs
Emotions ran high as the Adult Drug Court celebrated its 212th graduation. Steven Youngs fought back tears as he celebrated his success in this program. We take you inside the emotional ceremony to show why this treatment program is so effective.