What Are Drug Courts?

Drug courts developed as a response to the growing number of drug-using offenders entering the criminal justice system. Drug courts divert eligible offenders from traditional courts that are often not prepared to handle the complex problems drug-using offenders often face. Drug courts can be defined by their mission: to alter criminal behavior and promote abstinence through the use of judicial supervision, different levels and modalities of treatment, drug testing, incentives, sanctions, case management, and coordinated and comprehensive rehabilitative services. Drug courts generally involve:

A team effort among judges, prosecutors, defense, treatment providers, case managers, and community resources
The use of mandatory drug testing to ensure participants remain drug free, with treatment beginning shortly after arrest
Continuous supervision over the recovery process, with progress closely monitored by judges
Immediate response to program noncompliance

BJA Resources Related to Drug Courts

Bureau of Justice Assistance Drug Court Clearinghouse

Other Resources for Drug Courts

National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Center for Court Innovation
Drug Court Technology Resource Center
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Drug Courts
National Center for State Courts
National Criminal Justice Reference Service In the Spotlight Drug Courts Summary
National Drug Court Institute

State and Local Drug Court Resources

Assessing the Statewide Needs of Drug Courts
Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals
State-Level Activity Related to Drug Court Programs (as of December 15, 2003)
Summary of Drug Court Activity by State and County (November 7, 2003)

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