NCJ Number
164652
Date Published
1991
Length
167 pages
Annotation
This 1991 national conference on drug abuse and the courts, funded by the State Justice Institute and the Bureau of Justice Assistance and held in Washington, DC, focused on strategies for cooperation and coordination and on essentials of developing action plans.
Abstract
The conference represented an expressed commitment by leaders of State court systems to deal with drug-abusing offenders. Representatives of 36 State court systems were among the 332 conference attendees. Conference goals were to develop a common understanding among courts and criminal justice, education, health, and social service agencies about dimensions and effects of the drug abuse problem; to provide information about strategies, programs, and resources that can be used by State to address drug abuse problems; and to help States develop action plans that reflect a coordinated and cross-disciplinary approach to drug abuse problems. The conference sought to identify effective programs used by courts and treatment providers to respond to the drug crisis and to link courts with other governmental and private agencies to coordinate efforts to combat drug problems confronting State courts. A program was developed that provided education about court processes and case management for noncourt conference participants, and information was provided to court conference participants about treatment and addiction issues. Central themes emerged as the conference progressed: continued building of linkages for cooperative efforts, strong leadership to continue the building process, the importance of education and training in cooperative action, and information sharing about successful programs for drug-abusing offenders. Sample State action plans are included for Arkansas, Delaware, and Florida.