NCJ Number
178907
Date Published
July 1999
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This paper shows how the drug court concept is consistent with traditional Native American tribal concepts of justice and how it can be adapted to meet the specific needs of individual Native American communities.
Abstract
The Columbia University Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (1998) has concluded a definitive study of drug court research, evaluations, and literature, finding that drug courts provide the most comprehensive and effective control of the drug-using offender's criminality and drug use while under the court's jurisdiction. Alcohol or substance abuse is involved in more than 90 percent of the criminal cases in most tribal courts. These cases have always been difficult to handle because the court has limited options and resources to address them. Because the standard court process does not generally subject either adult or juvenile substance abusers to the sanctions and services necessary to change their behavior, most of these people repeatedly cycle through the system. The drug court concept, however, has proven effective in addressing these difficult drug and alcohol cases. Tribal courts have only recently adapted and implemented the drug court concept, but they are already achieving positive results. The 12 operational Tribal Health to Wellness Courts are reporting successful results consistent with the State drug court findings. As of June 1999, at least 259 individuals have been enrolled in tribal drug court programs, and at least 23 have graduated from these programs. 4 sources for additional information, a listing of the Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts in various States, and a list of the members of the Tribal Advisory Committee for the Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts