FAQs

Yes. STAR is a drug court; a specialty court that seeks to help individuals on federal supervised release who are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction.  Like other “problem-solving” or therapeutic courts, drug courts have been in state criminal court systems for decades and they have had very good results – helping people to overcome their addictions, become productive, working members of our community, and not return to prison.  For more information on the history and track record of drugs courts, please see the 2022 […]..

Anyone, including the court, the prosecutor, defense counsel or probation officer can make a referral to STAR.  However, STAR is currently limited to portions of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and meets in the Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside federal courthouses. To apply, defense counsel should prepare and submit a STAR Program Referral Form. For the Los Angeles program, email the completed form to STAR U.S. Probation Officer Kristie Rzonca (Kristie_Rzonca@cacp.uscourts.gov); for the Riverside program, email to STAR U.S. Probation Officer […]..

Since its inception in 2005, STAR has worked with more than 100 participants and has successfully graduated 45 individuals...

STAR has a 3-phase structure. Participants “phase up” based on their performance in the program, including participating in substance abuse and/or mental health treatment; attending court sessions and self-help meetings...

All STAR participant treatments plans are individualized based on the participant’s specific needs...

As a STAR participant, you will be expected to attend weekly STAR court sessions, remain in contact with probation and, perhaps most importantly, you must make every effort to remain clean and sober.  In addition to random drug testing, you are expected to engage in some form of drug treatment or therapy, attend at least three 12-Step meetings per week such as AA or NA, secure a sponsor, and seek employment or educational opportunities.  At least once a month, the entire STAR program also participates […]..

No.  In order to participate in STAR, you will need to resolve any pending violations with your sentencing judge before you begin our program.  However, you may want to apply to STAR and observe court sessions before any violation hearing or before your sentencing hearing for a violation so that your judge may take this into consideration when determining what sanctions, if any, you should serve before commencing STAR. To observe STAR, contact Joyce Delaney.  In Los Angeles, STAR meets the first two Thursdays of […]..

The STAR-LA team is comprised of United States District Judge, Otis D. Wright, II, and United States Magistrate Judge, Rozella A. Oliver; U.S. Probation Officers Kristie Rzonca, Susie Rodriguez, and Shane Williams; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Searight and Laura Alexander; FPD Collaborative Courts Chief Neha Chisterna and Deputy Federal Public Defender Deb Gonzalez, FPD MSW De Anna Dove, FPD Paralegal Joyce Delaney; and therapists Lance Daur and Tina Posey. The STAR-Riverside team is comprised of United States District Judge Kenly Kiya Kato, and United States […]..

You should discuss your decision with one of the assigned Deputy Federal Public Defender...

In addition to the requirements listed above, and your completion of the three phases of the program, all STAR graduates must maintain at least six months of uninterrupted sobriety, attend regular twelve-step meetings, work with a sponsor or other mentor, have stable living conditions, and present a relapse prevention plan.  Upon graduation, your term of supervised release is reduced by one year.  If you have more than one year left of supervised release after you graduate, you will return to regular supervision until your term […]..