Drug Courts and Jail-Based Treatment: Jail Setting Poses Unique Opportunity to Bridge Gap Between Courts and Treatment Services

• NCJ Number: 174611
• Journal: Corrections Today Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Dated: October 1998 Pages: 98-101
• Author(s): C W Huddleston
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Drug courts have been implemented in nearly 400 jurisdictions and more than 100,000 drug offenders have participated in drug court programs since their inception in 1989; of drug offender participants, 71 percent have successfully completed drug court programs or are actively participating in the programs.

Abstract

Drug courts differ significantly from previous attempts to manage and rehabilitate drug offenders. Rather than relying on fragmented criminal justice and treatment systems, drug courts bring the full weight of all disciplines to force defendants to address their underlying substance abuse problems. The drug court model typically entails a single drug court judge and staff who provide leadership and focus, expedited adjudication through early identification of appropriate program participants and referral to treatment as soon as possible after arrest, intensive long-term treatment and aftercare for appropriate drug offenders, comprehensive supervision through regular status hearings before a single court judge to monitor treatment progress and program compliance, increased defendant accountability through a series of graduated sanctions and rewards, and mandatory and frequent drug testing. Judge involvement is critical to the success of drug courts. In addition, drug courts rely on a pragmatic sentencing philosophy known as "smart punishment" which involves imposing the minimum amount of punishment necessary to achieve the twin sentencing goals of reduced criminality and drug use. Although all drug courts have similar structures, not all drug courts are the same. The design and structure of drug courts are developed at the local level to reflect the unique strengths, circumstances, and capacities of each community. Even though drug courts are now recognized as a successful criminal justice innovation, only a few jurisdictions have developed jail-based treatment programs that work successfully within the drug court framework. Examples of effective programs in California and Wyoming are provided. 12 references and 2 photographs