NCJ Number
162835
Date Published
1996
Length
128 pages
Annotation
A December 1995 symposium sponsored by the State Justice Institute brought together multidisciplinary jurisdictional teams and individuals who had been involved with drug court programs to examine issues involved in the implementation of drug courts, develop consensus, and identify the tasks and issues that need to be addressed soon.
Abstract
Participants agreed that the central issue is no longer punishment versus treatment; it is what kind of balance to attain between the imposition of some enforced discipline on the offender and the encouragement of tangible evidence of rehabilitation as displayed by behavioral changes related to work, abstinence, and personal responsibility. They also concluded that drug court programs have introduced new roles, philosophies, and relationships among and within the agencies involved in implementing these programs; that the judicial and treatment processes can reinforce each other; that the drug court's structure and promotion of an internalized sense of discipline are extremely important for the drug court population. They also agreed that drug policies must recognize that refusing drugs is a physical and chemical impossibility for the addict without treatment, regardless of the addict's moral commitment. Crucial issues include the relationship between the court and the treatment provider, the use of sanctions and incentives to address relapse, and ethical dilemmas of the agencies and professionals. Further discussions focused on the central issues involved in designing and operating a drug court, methods of obtaining approval from local government and the community, program evaluation, and strategies for attracting community resources. List of participants and appended background papers