Transcript What is a drug court? - Addiction Professionals of Louisiana

What is a drug court?
A unique partnership among:
the Judiciary
• Drug Treatment Professionals
• DA’s
• Public Defenders,
• Probation
• Corrections
•Law Enforcement
Aimed at a reduction in alcohol and drug use and
criminal activity.
Completely altering the Criminal Justice Landscape for
substance-abusing offenders.
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The First Steps
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The “war on drugs” began in the mid-80’s
Expanded the scope of drug laws
 Enacted stiffer penalties for drug offenses
 Many carried mandatory minimum prison sentences
Additional laws increased penalties for the trafficking and use of drugs.
 Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984
 Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 & 1988
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These laws choked court dockets with first time as well as recidivating offenders.
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According to the National Institute of Justice Drug Use Forecasting report
(1995) 51% - 83% of males, 41% - 84% of females arrested tested
positive for drug(s).
Cases were being processed without any treatment intervention
In an effort to impact this “revolving door” phenomenon of arrest and
recidivism the first Drug Court was started in Miami Florida in 1989 by
then District Attorney Janet Reno and Judge Stanley Goldstein.
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Sources:
Fulton-Hora, Peggy; Schma, William G.; & Rosenthal, John Notre Dame Law Review Jan. 1999
Drug Courts Program Office website www.ojp.usdoj.gov/dcpo/
The Drug Court Movement
The drug court model of case processing was
slowly accepted by other jurisdictions
• In 1994 Congress enacted the Crime Act
establishing the Drug Courts Program Office in the
Department of Justice to provide:
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Financial support ($45 million to 270 jurisdictions from ’95- ’97)
Technical assistance
Training
Program guidance
In 1996 the number of drug court nationally had grown to
125 in 45 states
• In 1997 there were 325 courts in operation in 48 states
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Source: Drug Courts Program Office website www. ojp.usdoj.gov/dcpo/
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Today there are over 700 drug courts operating
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Drug courts have expanded to offer specialized treatment in
 Tribal jurisdictions
 Juvenile offenders
 Families at risk of action by child protection agencies due to drug
use.
 Combined issues
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In 1996 the National Association of Drug Court
Professionals formed a task force to develop standards for
drug court practice
In January of 1997 through cooperation of the
Department of Justice, Drug Courts Program Office, and
the National Association of Drug Court Professionals the
10 Key Components of Drug Courts were released.
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10 Key Components of a Drug Court
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Drug Courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with
the justice system case processing
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Using a nonadversarial approach, prosecution and defense counsel
promote public safety while protecting participants due process rights.
Eligible participants are identified early and promptly placed in the drug
court program
Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and related
treatment and rehabilitation services.
Abstinence is monitored by frequent random alcohol and other drug
testing.
A coordinated strategy governs drug court responses to participants’
compliance.
Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant is essential.
Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and
gauge effectiveness.
Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective drug court
planning, implementation, and operations.
Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community
based organizations generates local support and enhances drug court
program effectiveness.
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Do Drug Courts Work?
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According to the American University Drug Court
Clearinghouse: drug courts have treated 100,000
offenders since their creation
71% of those individuals successfully completed or
are actively (Government Accounting Office)
Nationally costs for incarcerating an offender are
between $20,000 & 50,000 per person per year
Construction of a prison cell can be as much as
$80,000
Treatment through a drug court program costs
approximately $2,500 per person per year
Source: National Association of Drug Court Professionals website www.nadcp.org
Drug Court Web Resources
www.samhsa.gov/csap Center for Cubstance Abuse Prevention, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
www.samhsa.gov/csat Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
www.american.edu/justice Drug Court Clearinghouse/ American University
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/dcpo Drug Court Programs Office
www.naadac.org National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Counselors
www.casacolumbia.org National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at
Columbia University
www.health.org National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.drugcourtinstitute.org National Drug Court Institute
www.nadcp.org National Association of Drug Court Professionals
www.ladco.org Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals
www.drugcourt.com Fairview Treatment Center (St. Mary Parish Drug Courts)