Free US Law Dictionary

Drug Court

Drug courts are specialized courts designed to handle cases involving offenders who abuse addictive substances. The judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social service, and treatment communities work together to break the cycle of addiction.

Drug courts offer offenders charged with less-serious crimes of being under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, or even drug-using offenders charged with a non-drug related crime the option of entering the drug court system in lieu of serving a jail sentence. Offenders will have to plead guilty to the charge, agree to take part in treatment, regular drug screenings, and regular reporting to the drug court judge for a minimum of one year. Should the offender fail to comply with one or more of the requirements they may be removed from the drug court and incarcerated at the judge's discretion. If they complete the drug court program the charges brought against them are dropped.