The Missoula County Youth Treatment Court (YTC) is an award-winning drug and alcohol cessation court-sanctioned treatment program. Youth Treatment Court participants are volunteer youth proffered from the ranks of juvenile probation. Through successful enrollment and completion of the program, clients are afforded an opportunity to have all prior juvenile charges expunged.

YTC Overview

Youth Treatment Court operates on a 4-phase system:

Phase One requires uninterrupted attendance for 2 weeks
Phase Two requires 2 consecutive weeks of clean urine analysis tests (UA's)
Phase Three requires 30 days of consecutive clean UA's
Phase Four requires 60 days of consecutive clean UA's

Youth Treatment Court participants sign a contract which stipulates to the rules and procedures employed. Program participants also receive a Youth Treatment Court Handbook which serves as the program's operations manual. Throughout the program, participants are directed to attend weekly court hearings where their compliance is addressed by the treatment team in open court. Participants attend a variety of treatment-oriented meetings geared towards eradicating drug use and replacing the desire to continue use with positive based behavior.

In addition to chemical dependency treatment and counseling, participants engage in a number of strength-based, pro-social activities such as writing workshops, weight training, yoga  and community service. The Missoula Youth Harvest Project, a  therapeutic, service-oriented work program which grows and delivers sustainably grown produce to those in need, employs treatment court participants as a segment of its workforce. Other YTC treatment modalities include animal-assisted therapy, a marijuana education group, and family-based support services. Parents of participants are required to complete a series of parenting classes specifically designed for Youth Treatment Court.

Initial assessments are handled by a court affiliated social worker and other members of YTC treatment team. Most often, treatment-based services are provided by a licensed counselor. YTC participants may also work with various private providers. Although the program emphasizes community-based treatment, participants who demonstrate a need for more intense services may be directed to in-patient treatment facilities. Some participants requiring higher levels of treatment may remain in the community, but reside temporarily in a group home setting.

The program employs a series of sanctions and rewards throughout the youth's term of participation.

Youth who successfully graduate the program may have their court record expunged.

Youth Treatment Court Team Members

Hon. John W. Larson, District Court Judge
Hon. Gail Bourguignon, Standing Master
Mark Handleman, Deputy County Attorney
Jeff Wilson, Office of the Public Defender
Christine Kowalski, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Chelsea Scarborough, Treatment Coordinator
Sgt. John Gottula, Juvenile Detention Facility Representative

For more information on Youth Treatment Court contact:
Brenda Johnson
Judicial Assistant
(406) 721-5700