What is a Drug Treatment Court?
The Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028 describes drug treatment courts as specialized court dockets where individuals can enter long-term drug treatment and agree to court supervision instead of receiving a jail or prison sentence. Participants who complete the program can have their underlying criminal offenses dismissed or expunged, but those who fail to complete the program are processed through the traditional justice system.
Types of Treatment Courts
The first treatment court was established in 1989 in Miami, US, to address the frequent incarceration of individuals due to drug addiction, according to the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028. Today, there are over 4,000 drug treatment courts nationwide in the US, based on data from the National Treatment Court Resource Centre (NTCRC). Adult treatment courts are the most common, constituting about half of all treatment courts in the country. The first juvenile drug treatment court was opened in 1995 in Visalia, California for youth with substance use disorders who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. These courts vary in their target populations and resources and are managed by a multi-disciplinary team that ensures participants receive treatment services, assist in securing and maintaining employment, and comply with court conditions. This team includes the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, community corrections officer, social workers, and a treatment service professional, and sometimes a police officer. A case coordinator oversees the entire team and case in close consultation with the judge.
Who Will Run the Courts?
The Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028 calls for the establishment of a drug court coordinating board consisting of judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, and treatment representatives who will oversee drug court cases. Their goal is to develop, pilot, and ensure the continued provision of a treatment framework suitable for drug court decisions, with clear phases of treatment, outcomes, and methods for strictly monitoring and managing cases within the local context. They will also establish criteria to screen candidates, distinguishing which criminal offenses can be considered and what requirements, such as mental health or criminal history, offenders must meet to be offered this sentencing pathway. The strategy emphasizes that staff involved in drug court proceedings should undergo additional training specific to drug courts, potentially through international online courses.
Benefits of Treatment Courts
The primary aim of drug treatment courts is not punishment but to recognize addiction as a disease and provide treatment for the chronic condition affecting behavior and impulse control, according to the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028. Research from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has found that treatment courts reduce participant recidivism and drug use. The NIJ’s Multisite Adult Drug Court Evaluation reported that treatment court participants were less likely than a comparison group to commit crimes (40 percent vs. 53 percent) and to use any drugs in the prior year (56 percent vs. 76 percent).
Drug Treatment Courts Internationally
While the drug treatment court model began in the US, valuable research and case studies exist internationally, states the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028. Studying implementation processes, operating procedures, and success rates in other countries can provide insights into how different cultures influence concepts of justice and rehabilitation. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has endorsed drug treatment courts as an effective intervention for individuals with drug use disorders involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system. Fourteen nations, including Norway, Ireland, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Australia, have established at least one drug treatment court.