The United States
The first Drug Court was launched in the United States in 1989 in Miami, Florida. Today, there are over 2,500 Drug Courts throughout the United States.
Drug Courts keep drug addicted individuals in treatment for long periods of time, while supervising them closely. Drug Court participants receive the treatment and other services they require to stay clean and lead productive lives, yet they are also held accountable by a judge for meeting their obligations to themselves, their families and society. Participants are regularly and randomly tested for drug use, required to appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, and receive rewards for doing well and sanctions for not living up to the requirements of the court.
Over the last twenty years Drug Courts in the United States have been extensively researched and proven to reduce substance abuse and crime at less expense and with greater effectiveness than any other justice strategy.
The success of Drug Courts has spawned new generations of treatment court programs that are successfully confronting emerging issues for our nation. Veterans Treatment Courts are meeting the unique needs of the men and women from the armed services who have become involved with the criminal justice system due to substance abuse and/or mental health issues. DWI Courts handle hardcore DWI offenders who are unable to change their behavior due to alcohol addiction. And Reentry Drug Courts are assisting individuals leaving our nation’s jails and prisons to succeed on parole and avoid a recurrence of crime and drug abuse.
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) was established in 1994 to work at the national, state and local level to create and enhance Drug Courts. Today, NADCP is the premier national membership, training, and advocacy organization for the Drug Court model, representing over 27,000 multidisciplinary justice professionals and community leaders.
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10 Key Components of Drug Courts
Drug Court participants appear regularly before a specially trained judge who oversees their case.
In American Drug Courts, Judges, Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, Case Managers, Law Enforcement, Probation & Parole Officers, CPS Case Workes, and Treatment Providers review every individual case and work together.