Court Referral Department

The Court Referral Department provides State certified substance abuse referral programs for residents of Northwest Alabama. More specifically, the program works in conjunction with the circuit, district and municipal courts in Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale Counties.

In addition to substance abuse education, the department provides defensive driving courses and referrals to other treatment programs.

An overview of last fiscal year has shown that Level I and II substance abuse programs continue at maximum participation levels of 35 and 22 students per class, respectively. The courses offered at the Phil Campbell campus of Northwest Shoals Community College are growing as well. Furthermore, the eight-hour defensive driving school has flourished with approximately 30 students attending per session. Given the success of this program, Court Referral plans to open more classes throughout the region.

In order to better meet the needs of the region, Court Referral expanded services by when they developed a Spanish DUI class, as well as by implementing a drug-testing program as recommended by the Administrative Office of Courts. 

As a result, the Court Referral staff has increased. Anessa Richey, certified Court Referral Officer, and Rhonda Teks-Hyde, Defensive Driving Registration Clerk, both joined the NACOLG Staff in November 2001. In May, Rolando Bogran was hired to instruct the Spanish version of Level I & II courses, while David McCullough joined the Department in June as a Level II instructor Trainee.

Department Contact:

Sheila Kimbrough
256-389-0522