Drug courts are innovative programs designed to provide drug-addicted defendants with successful drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration.

A drug court is a special program – usually within a standard criminal court – that channels non-violent drug-addicted defendants into highly structured and closely monitored drug treatment programs. Drug Court participants commit to treatment and counseling, agree to abide by the rules of the drug court program, face frequent and random drug testing, and participate in regular court appearances. The offender is forced to deal with his or her substance abuse problems (or face jail time), but is also afforded the types of assistance, support, and encouragement that studies show are critical to recovery from drug addiction.