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Judge orders drug-patch monitoring, restricts driving and directs treatment visits for defendants who test positive
Summary
A Jefferson County judge ordered at least one defendant to obtain a drug-monitoring patch within 24 hours, barred her from driving while she tests positive, and instructed defendants to follow treatment plans and contact a local provider named in court.
The presiding judge ordered immediate treatment-related bond conditions for defendants who tested positive on drug screenings, including a requirement to obtain a monitored drug patch within 24 hours and follow a treatment plan. The judge told Precious Eaglin, charged with assault on a peace officer and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, “You are going to have to get a drug patch. You have 24 hours to get that. ... You have to get it changed every 2 weeks.” The judge also ordered that Eaglin not drive while she remains positive on testing. Why it matters: The court used bond conditions to require monitored treatment and to limit driving privileges pending negative tests — an immediate change to pretrial conditions that affects defendants’ mobility and treatment obligations. At the hearing the judge explained the expectations for treatment compliance and testing: “It’s obviously gonna test positive this first time, but it needs to test negative after that. Do you understand?” The judge directed the defendant to visit with court-recommended resources and to “do whatever you need to do” to follow the plan, specifically naming a local provider referenced in court as Spindle Top as a place defendants could obtain the patch and related services. The court also discussed patch testing results with counsel in other matters. In one case the judge noted a defendant, Brian Mitchell, had a hair-follicle test that tested negative and that the defendant had tested negative on a patch that day; the judge reiterated that defendants must continue to change patches on schedule and attend appointments. The court made these conditions part of bond compliance; failure to follow the testing and treatment plan could prompt the court to reexamine bond or other conditions at a future hearing. The orders were narrowly applied to the defendants who tested positive or whose testing protocols were under review; the judge directed them to meet with court staff and with defense counsel to make specific plans before leaving the courthouse.
