Drug courts are courts that help solve public health problems using a unique model where the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, mental health, and the community work together to offer help to the addicted offenders who seek to recover from the addiction. These are specialized court dockets programs that are used to give alternative treatment to a sentence given to people who are into substance use and have mental disorders. The drug courts mostly target criminal offenders and juvenile offenders that are addicts of alcohol. The structure of the drug courts as a specialty court works with a comprehensive model that involves:
The screening of the offenders and assessing the risks involved
They have judicial interaction.
They offer drug testing that comes with monitoring and supervising the offenders.
They offer treatment and rehabilitation services.
The courts are run by a multi-disciplinary body made of judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, social workers, and personnel from the treatment services. The families of the offenders also support the drug courts by attending hearings.
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The drug courts serve a crucial role in criminal justice, assisting to stop the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and criminal activities related to the abuse. The drug courts help recover the dependents of drugs and alcohol by using a coordinated response to the offenders’ dependent on alcohol abuse. The courts combine alcohol and other drug treatment service with processing of cases in the judicial body.
The drug courts effectively reduce crime because the crime rates have decreased by a significant margin, and the re-arrest that happens when the offenders repeat the crimes has also lowered drastically (Carlson, 2018). There is also a 15% reduction in recidivism, and this is a clear indication that the drug courts are working effectively.
Reference
Carlson, J. R. (2018). Prison nurseries: A way to reduce recidivism. The Prison Journal , 98 (6), 760-775.
