Each court serves a specific need and purpose. Please click on the Court Logo Links above to learn more about each Treatment and Accountability Court
Judges and Staff Judge Cindy Morris
Domestic Violence Court
Coordinator: Amanda Barnett
Jennifer Phillips
Treatment and Accountability Administrator
301 W Crawford St
Dalton, GA 30720
Ph: (706) 281-4811
Fax: (706) 226-5731
"Changing Thoughts, Changing Lives"
In 2014, the community partners realized there was a need in our community for a focus on Domestic Violence prevention and treatment. The idea was to model a Domestic Violence Court after the already established Accountability Courts, such as Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court throughout the State. These Accountability Courts were established to alleviate stress in the prison system as well as target the core issues which are causing the participants to offend. Currently, Domestic Violence Court is not recognized by the Council of Accountability Judges of Georgia and the Office of the Governor as an official Accountability Court. The State Commission on Family Violence is currently looking at Conasauga Domestic Violence Court as the model for the State. There is a movement to push for Domestic Violence Court to be recognized by the State as an official Accountability Court and receive funding.
Conasauga Domestic Violence Court has adopted 4 goals: 1) A Just Result; 2) Safety for the Victim; 3) Offender Accountability and 4) Elimination of Recidivism. Each participant is required to attend RESOLV FVIP classes. In 2016, 144 participants were enrolled in the program. By the end of 2016, 105 of those participants had completed the program, creating at least 73% completion rate.
Contact Information 301 W Crawford St
(706) 281-4811
Jennifer Phillips,
Treatment and Accontability Court Administrator
japhillips@whitfieldcountyga.com
Amanda Barnett,
Domestic Violence Court Coordinator
abarnett@whitfieldcountyga.com
"Saving Lives! Restoring Hope!"
The Drug Treatment Court is a collaborative effort between a number of key agencies, who are dedicated to working together, in order to provide a better outcome for citizens that have become involved in the criminal justice system by means of non-violent, drug related activities.
The Conasauga Drug Treatment Court, located in Dalton, Georgia, offers an 18-24-month, evidence-based recovery-focused alternative to incarceration for citizens residing in Whitfield and Murray Counties, who have become defendants in the criminal justice system. The primary goal is for each participant to reduce recidivism, achieve long-term stability, and become law-abiding, successful members of their families and communities.
Request for Drug Treatment Court Assessment
The Conasauga Mental Health Court Program began in July, 2018 and was developed to allow defendants with a diagnosed mental illness to voluntarily address their illness with the goals of becoming accountable for their own mental health, reducing their negative interactions with law enforcement and the court system and achieving life stability.
The Conasauga Mental Health Court is a demanding program that holds its participants accountable for their own actions. The program consist of required treatment sessions, hearings and random drug screens. Conasauga Mental Health Court consist of a team that includes Judge Scott Minter, representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender and defense bar, local law enforcement agencies, State Probation Office, Treatment Team, and the Program Coordinator.
Admission Request for Entry:
Anyone can make a referral to Mental Health Court. Referrals can be made by phone or by referral form (To come later) *see Participant Forms for online referrals.
Screening Process:
Screening is conducted in the early stages of Mental Health Court and typically precedes assessment and other diagnostic activities
The District Attorney reviews the case to decide if the prospective participant meets predetermined eligibility requirements. They will then refer the candidate to the Drug Court Coordinator for further screening. The Mental Health Coordinator uses assessment tools to complete the screening process
After the screening is completed, the entire Mental Health Court team uses information gathered during screening to determine the admissibility of the candidate to the program.
Program Requirements Each participant will be required to attend weekly treatment meetings and groups, complete phases and show forward progress, provide testable urine/saliva/hair samples for drug screening, pay weekly participant fees and attend Court as required.
Each participant will be required to work, pay child support, perform community service, allow for home visits from surveillance and follow all additional requirement of the Mental Health Court contract.
Contact Information 301 W Crawford St
(706) 281-4811
Jennifer Phillips,
Treatment and Accontability Court Administrator
japhillips@whitfieldcountyga.com