Expand and Enhance Speciality Courts
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Brief Description
Contents
Introductory Paragraph
In the late 1980s alternatives such as drug courts emerged as an innovative approach when professionals recognized the importance of treating substance use and mental health to prevent relapse and recidivism. Drug courts aim to reduce drug use relapse and criminal recidivism through a variety of services. These services include risk and needs assessment, judicial interaction, monitoring and supervision, graduated sanctions and incentives, treatment, and various rehabilitation services. As of today, there are more than 3,000 drug courts across the United States. [1] Specialty courts consist of Veteran, DUI/DWI, Mental health, Juvenile, Family Drug Treatment Courts, Tribal, Opioid and Re-entry.
Overall, the drug court approach intends to reduce time in the criminal just system and provide treatment to individuals instead of punishment
Additional information regarding expanding Improving Recovery Support for People in the Criminal Justice System can be found here. [2]
Key Information
Drug courts are specialized courts targeting those charged with or convicted of a crime. Although drug courts vary in target populations and resources, programs are generally managed by a multidisciplinary team including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, community corrections officers, social workers, and treatment service professionals. Support from those representing law enforcement, the family, and the community is encouraged through participation in hearings, programming, and events such as graduation.[3]
There are several types of treatment courts including:
DWI/DUI-
Mental Health
Juvenile- Juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTC) are designed for youth with substance use disorders who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. [4]
Family Drug Treatment Courts- FTDCs, alternatively known as dependency drug courts or family drug courts, use a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to serve families who require substance use disorder treatment and who are involved with the child welfare system.[5]
Tribal- A Tribal Healing to Wellness Court, like a state drug court, integrates substance abuse treatment with the criminal justice system to provide substance-abusing offenders judicially supervised treatment and transitional services using intense supervision, sanctions and incentives, and drug testing in a non-punitive setting. [6]
Opioid
Re-entry
Relevant Research
Do Drug Courts Work?[7]
Impact of Drug Courts[8]
Adult Drug Court- Research to Practice[9]
Multisite Adult Drug Court Evaluation (MADCE)[10]
Impactful Federal, State, and Local Policies
Adult Drug Treatment court Grants[11]
Veterans Treatment Program Grant[12]
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program[13]
Available Tools and Resources
National Drug Court Resource Center- Resources by Court Type incluing best practices[14]
National Drug Court Resource Center- Drug Court Review a peer reviewed journal with information and resources to bridge gaps.[15]
Seven Program Design Features: Adult Drug Court Principles, Research, and Practice[16]
National Court Drug Institute-Technical Assistance for Adult Drug Courts[17]
Adult Drug Courts and Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence[18]
Justice for Vets-Key Components for Veterans Treatment Court[19]
Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts The Key Components[20]
Tribal Healing to Wellness Court- Policies & Procedures[21]
Promising Practices
Adult National Drug Court Best Practice Standards[22] Adult Drug Court best practice standards provides evidence-based practice standards set forth by subject matter experts, researchers, and policy makers.
Family Treatment Court Best Practices[23] Provides shared elements required in quality practice
New York State Essential Elements of Opioid Courts[24]
Drug Treatment Court- Opioid Overdose Prevention Framework[25]
Sources
- ^ https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/238527.pdf
- ^ http://ifi-wikis.com/IFI-OpioidCrisis/Improve_Recovery_Support_for_People_in_the_Criminal_Justice_System
- ^ https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/238527.pdf
- ^ https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/juvenile-drug-treatment-court-guidelines
- ^ https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/treatment/drug-courts/index.html
- ^ https://nicic.gov/tribal-healing-wellness-courts-policies-and-procedures-guide
- ^ https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/do-drug-courts-work-findings-drug-court-research#:~:text=Impact%20of%20Drug%20Courts%20on%20Recidivism%20and%20Cost&text=In%20an%20unprecedented%20longitudinal%20study,arrests)%20and%20significantly%20lower%20costs
- ^ https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/do-drug-courts-work-findings-drug-court-research
- ^ https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/adult-drug-court-research-practice-r2p-initiative
- ^ https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/nijs-multisite-adult-drug-court-evaluation
- ^ https://bja.ojp.gov/program/adult-drug-court-grant-program/overview
- ^ https://bja.ojp.gov/program/veterans-treatment-court-grant-program/overview
- ^ https://ndcrc.org/solicitations/
- ^ https://ndcrc.org/resources-by-court-type/
- ^ https://ndcrc.org/drug-court-review/
- ^ https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/248701.pdf
- ^ https://www.ndci.org/resource/training/ta/
- ^ https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma14-4852.pdf
- ^ https://justiceforvets.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/The-Ten-Key-Components-of-Veterans-Treatment-Courts.pdf
- ^ https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/bja/188154.pdf
- ^ https://nicic.gov/tribal-healing-wellness-courts-policies-and-procedures-guide
- ^ https://ndcrc.org/best-practice-resources/
- ^ https://www.nadcp.org/standards/family-treatment-court-best-practice-standards/
- ^ https://ndcrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NY_State_Unified_Court_System_Essential_Elements_of_Opioid_Courts.pdf
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__zaI4LULJU
