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Judge Boyd amends release conditions to require Lifetime Recovery, MAT continuation and service referrals
Summary
In the 187th District Court, Judge Stephanie Boyd altered release conditions for a defendant to require placement at Lifetime Recovery, continued participation in a probation-run MAT program, and a referral to the Center for Healthcare Services; the court set a two-week return to confirm placement.
Judge Stephanie Boyd, presiding judge of the 187th District Court, on the record amended release conditions for a defendant to require placement at Lifetime Recovery and ongoing participation in the court-linked medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program.
The change came after defense counsel and probation staff told the court the defendant was taking Subutex (a buprenorphine product) and that some residential intermediate sanction facilities (ISF) had returned people who required that medication. Judge Boyd said, “we're gonna alter and amend conditions. To lifetime recovery. And, Jenna, she used to be released to lifetime recovery only. A referral to Center for Healthcare Services, and continued participation in the MAT program.”
The court’s action directs probation to refer the defendant to Lifetime Recovery and to the Center for Healthcare Services for follow-up care. Probation staff told the court that the department operates a MAP/MAT program and that Christine Denning, a probation officer involved with that program, would be part of coordinating care. Defense counsel said some residential facilities will not accept people on certain opioid-blocking medications, and recommended intensive outpatient if residential placement is not available.
Judge Boyd set a two-week “phantom” return to verify placement status; she instructed the clerk to list the matter on the docket so the court can change course if Lifetime Recovery does not accept the defendant. The court also emphasized that if a defendant cannot be placed in Lifetime Recovery, it would consider intensive outpatient treatment instead.
Court staff and probation were asked to document referrals and to confirm which agency or program will carry long-term case management. The judge asked the clerk to give the matter a two-week setting so the court can review acceptance and follow-up arrangements.
The discussion also included the defendant describing she had been on Subutex for about three and a half months and that probation has an assessor assigned to the MAT program.
The court’s order amends release conditions only for the named defendant; the judge framed the change as narrowly tied to placement and supervision conditions rather than a change in statutory law.
The court will review the placement status on the date set in two weeks and will consider alternate treatment conditions if Lifetime Recovery does not accept the defendant.
