The treatment needs of individuals eligible for the drug court program are assessed, as are any related medical, psychological, and other problems they may have that the treatment program will have to address. Drug court practitioners understand that drug addiction is a complex, chronic, relapsing disease and that a comprehensive, sustained continuum of therapeutic interventions and services can increase clients' periods of abstinence and reduce the rate of relapse, rearrest, and incarceration. The Key Components. The report describes the 10 key components of a drug court and provides performance benchmarks for each component. It was developed through a cooperative agreement between OJP, DCPO and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, which convened the Drug Court Standards Committee.
Drug courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing.
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 alcohol and other drug testing. A coordinated strategy governs drug court responses to participants' compliance.