Adult Drug Court

What is it?

What do we do?

How to Refer?

This specialty court was established to address the significant amount of non-violent substance abusing participants being placed on probation only to be revoked due to their untreated and continued use of drugs. Drug Courts are specialized court docket programs that target adults charged with or convicted of a non-violent crime who have alcohol and other drug dependency problems. This specialty court is designed to address the participant’s need for treatment, support and monitoring in a highly structured system. This system includes a treatment program, frequent drug testing, case management, supervision by Adult Drug Court judge(s), the Probation and Parole Department and other community resources. Drug Court participants who successfully complete the program will be considered to have their underlying criminal charges expunged.

Adult Drug courts consist of a multidisciplinary team to include Judges, Case Managers, Probation/Parole officers, Treatment providers and Public Defenders. The team works together with the participant to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use and to help the participant live a healthy, prosperous and drug free lifestyle. Drug Court models were created to help reduce substance abuse, crime and recidivism rates.

Recidivism rate – 1 year = 6.9%; 2 year = 13.8% as calculated by the Louisiana Supreme Court

Drug Courts are Post-adjudication. Offenders with an indication of a serious drug addiction dependency are sentenced to a Specialty Court and must be accepted by the District Attorney as well as felony probation.