ADULT TREATMENT COURTS
WHAT IS AN ADULT TREATMENT COURT?
An adult treatment court is a specially designed court program. The purpose is to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among offenders and to increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense treatment; mandatory periodic treatment testing; community supervision; appropriate sanctions and incentives; and other rehabilitation services, all of which is supervised by a judicial officer.
Rigorous evaluation and research has demonstrated that where treatment courts are implemented consistent with models and procedures developed based on objective studies, they significantly reduce recidivism and substance abuse among high-risk substance abusing offenders. Treatment courts that are properly implemented also increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation while simultaneously reducing the cost to the public below the historic costs of addressing these problems in the criminal justice system.
Pursuant to W.Va. Code §62-15-2(5), a treatment court is defined as a judicial intervention process that incorporates the Ten Key Components of treatment courts. It may include pre-adjudication or post-adjudication participation. The Ten Key Components used by treatment courts are:
- Treatment courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing. Early, continuous, and intense treatment is an evidence-based effective component of treatment courts.
- In treatment courts, prosecution and defense counsel use a nonadversarial approach to promote public safety while protecting participants’ due process rights.
- Eligible participants are identified early and are promptly placed in a treatment court program.
- Treatment courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services. Recovery support through step-down services over the term an offender participants in treatment court, provided in phases, is incorporated in every West Virginia treatment court.
- Abstinence is monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing. Drug testing is mandatory and random.
- A coordinated strategy governs treatment court responses to participants’ compliance. This includes the use of appropriate incentives and sanctions to alter offender behavior.
- Ongoing judicial interaction with each treatment court participant is essential. Close judicial supervision and involvement, including judicial interaction with participants and frequent status hearings, is a foundation of treatment court evidence-based practice.
- Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness.
- Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective treatment court planning, implementation, and operations.
- Forging partnerships among treatment courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations generates local support and enhances treatment court effectiveness. A treatment court team of appropriate disciplines and an advisory committee of a variety of interested disciplines are required to establish a treatment court in West Virginia.
FACTS:
- Treatment courts reduce crime.
- Treatment courts save money.
- Treatment courts ensure compliance.
- Treatment courts restore families and citizens.
Map of West Virginia's Adult Treatment Courts
Adult Treatment Courts Fact Sheet