NCJ Number
177227
Date Published
1999
Length
52 pages
Annotation
In the decade since the first drug courts opened, this entirely new approach has revolutionized traditional attitudes toward criminal justice and judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys have changed their preconceived notions of the role of drug courts.
Abstract
The goal of drug courts is to stop drug abuse and related criminal activity. These courts offer a compelling alternative, court-supervised treatment, to individuals whose criminal behavior stems from drug use. In exchange for successfully completing treatment, the drug court may dismiss the original charge, reduce or set aside the sentence, or offer a lesser penalty or any combination of these options. Drug courts have transformed the roles of both criminal justice practitioners and treatment providers. The judge is the central figure in a team effort that focuses on offender sobriety and accountability. Treatment providers keep the drug court informed about participant progress so that sanctions and incentives can be provided by the drug court. The drug court provides clear choices, sanctions, and incentives to help individuals take control of their own recovery. Some drug courts target first offenders, while others concentrate on habitual offenders. The development and operation of drug court programs are reviewed, with emphasis on drug court research, State drug court associations, community impact and outreach, juvenile and family drug courts, treatment courts for offenders convicted of driving under the influence, mental health courts, domestic violence courts, community courts, tribal courts, international courts, jail-based drug court programs, and re-entry drug courts. Key components of successful drug court programs are identified. 29 references