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Florida's Treatment-Based Drug Courts: Gearing Up Against Substance Abuse

NCJ Number
150139
Author(s)
R H Peters; B A Pennington; J D Wells; L Rosenthal; J Meeks; A Brown; R Kambo; M Singleton
Date Published
Unknown
Length
175 pages
Annotation
Based on Florida's successful experience with drug courts, this manual is designed as a reference for jurisdictions that are considering a treatment-based drug court or have decided to institute drug court and would like suggestions about how they should proceed.
Abstract
One chapter describes the treatment-based drug court model by contrasting its approach to that of the traditional court, followed by a chapter that describes the critical role of treatment in a drug court program. Another chapter highlights several preliminary steps for implementing a treatment-based drug court program, so as to help guide court staff in examining the feasibility of developing a drug court program; developing community partnerships and support for the program; and identifying resources needed to support treatment, court monitoring, and other program aspects. This is followed by a chapter that provides guidance in implementing a treatment-based drug court, beginning with initial planning and development activities and then moving to actual operation. One chapter describes several operational aspects of drug courts, namely, procedures for screening drug-court participants and conducting drug court hearings. It also examines methods for implementing a management information system to assist the court. The concluding chapter assists staff in developing an evaluation plan for drug court programs. Appended supplementary material, including forms, proposals, examples, and a bibliography of articles on drug courts