What are drug courts?
Drug courts are specialized courts or court calendars that incorporate intensive judicial supervision, treatment services, sanctions, and incentives to address the needs of drug defendants. A drug court team (composed of the judge, prosecutor, public defender, probation officer, and treatment providers) works in concert to ensure that defendants have the support of the justice system and treatment services to address their drug abuse problems. The basic elements that define drug courts include the following ten components:1) Drug courts integrate alcohol and other treatment services with justice system case processing.2) Using a nonadversarial approach, prosecution and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due-process rights.3) Eligible participants are identified early and promptly placed in the drug court program.4) Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services.5) Abstinence is monito
