21st Judicial District Court

Division of Juvenile Services

Juvenile Drug Court

 

What is Juvenile Drug Court?

  

Sonja T. Smith, LAC, CCS

Josie DiGiovanni, CIT   Treatment Case Manager\

Tanya H. Sparks, CIT   Treatment Case Manager

 

 

A juvenile Drug Court is a special court given the responsibility to intervene when a juvenile who is involved in probation is at risk for failure in probation because of continued drug or alcohol use. A Juvenile Drug Court Program works intensely with the adolescent and his/her family to create a different way of thinking and behaving as a family unit. This program includes random drug testing, judicial and probation supervision, individual, and family counseling, drug abuse treatment, and requires completion of an educational plan. Incentives to encourage progress and sanctions to deter relapse are used throughout the program duration. The Judge, who plays an active role in supervising drug court clients, gives these incentives and sanctions.

 

Partnership

 

The juvenile drug court program is a unique partnership with the Judge, District Attorney, Public Defender, Office of Juvenile Justice, Sheriff’s Office, and Treatment Professionals. The treatment team consists of a Program Director, and Therapists. Everyone is dedicated to helping the child/family get their life on track. Our responsibility to the client is to do everything possible to help them and their families makes the necessary changes in order to remain clean and sober. The client and their families will play an active role in all aspects of your treatment.

 

Program Description

Goal of Drug Court

  1. All drug court clients will remain drug-free while in the program and will be encouraged to abstain from illegal drug use after graduation from the program;
  2. 75% of the participants will not progress further into the criminal justice system during their program participation;
  3. 75% of the participants will decrease their anti-social behavior;
  4. All clients will work toward a high school diploma, attend graduate equivalency classes, or other form of alternative education such as vocational/technical programs;
  5. All clients that are deemed appropriate because of age or circumstances will attain and maintain socially-sanctioned employment and;
  6. 75% of the families of clients will improve their intra-family functioning.