Juvenile and Family Drug Courts: Profile of ProgramThis report was made possible by the many individuals involved with the operation of juvenile and family drug courts in the U.S.who contributed information on the programs summarized in this publication. We are deeply grateful to them for compiling this information as well as for sharing their insights regarding policy and other issues relevant to implementing and sustaining juvenile and family drug courts over the long term. Most of all, we thank them for their initiative, leadership and dedication in launching these programs in their respective jurisdictions. As this report illustrates, juvenile and family drug courts are clearly much more complex programs to oversee than the traditional adjudication process that would otherwise be applicable. However, the impact that juvenile and family drug courts can achieve � and have already achieved during the few years in which they have operated � can be immeasurable for both the court system, the individual participant, and the community.
We also extend special appreciation to Judge John T. Parnham, who established the adult, juvenile and family drug courts in the First Judicial Circuit in Escambia County (Pensacola), Florida and serves as the drug court judge for the juvenile and family drug court dockets in that district; Robin Wright, Drug Court Coordinator for the First Judicial Circuit in Escambia County; Dr. Michael Smith, Director of the Substance Abuse Clinic at Lincoln Hospital in New York City, who has been instrumental in developing the treatment components of many drug courts; Judge Thomas Merrigan, First Justice for the Franklin County, Massachusetts District Court and who presides over the combined juvenile and family drug court in that jurisdiction; and Robin Kimbrough, Associate Director of the Institute for Families and Society at the University of South Carolina; for their review of the draft survey instrument developed to capture the information presented in this report as well as for their on-going guidance and insights regarding juvenile and family drug court operations. We are also grateful to the staff of the OJP Drug Courts Program Office for their assistance in compiling the information upon which this report is based and in preparing this report for final publication. In particular, we extend our very special thanks to Marilyn Roberts and Jennifer Brophy for their guidance and many helpful suggestions that have been incorporated into this document and for their on-going assistance despite the many other demands for their attention.
Readers of this report are encouraged to contact the judges and other program officials listed in the Appendix to further discuss the programs described as well as to contact the OJP Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project for additional information as well as technical assistance in exploring the feasibility of adapting these programs to other jurisdictions.
A. Focus of this Report
B. Defining Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
C. Juvenile and Family Drug Court Activity Underway in the States
A. Operational, Caseload, Demographic and Organizational Description
1. Operational Information
a. Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-A-1: Juvenile Drug Courts Included in this Report
b. Family Drug Courts
Chart II-A-2: Family Drug Courts Included in this Report
2. Caseload and Program Enrollment
a. Juvenile Drug Courts
(1) General Caseload Information
Chart II-A-3(1): Total Juvenile Delinquency Cases Filed in 1997 in Jurisdictions with Juvenile Drug Courts Included in this Report and Estimated Percent of Defendants Using Specific Types of Drugs
Chart II-A-3(2): Total Juvenile Delinquency Cases Filed in 1997 in Jurisdictions with Juvenile Drug Courts Included in this Report and Estimated Percent of Defendants Using Specific Types of Drugs
(2) Program Enrollment
Chart II-A-4: Program Enrollment of Juvenile Drug Courts � Total Capacity and Number Enrolled By Period of Enrollmentm
Chart II-A-5: Participant Enrollment Status: Juvenile Drug Courts
(3) Nature of Charges: Juvenile Drug Court Participants
Chart II-A-6: Nature of Charges: Juvenile Drug Court Participants
(4) Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Age and Ethnic Origin
Chart II-A-7: Age and Ethnic Origin of Juvenile Drug Court Participants
(5) Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Family Status
(a) Persons with whom participants reside
(b) Sibling Status of Participants
(c) Length of time at Present Residence
(6) Substance Use
(a) Primary Drugs Used
Chart II- A-8: Primary Drugs Used: Juvenile Drug Court Participants
(b) Extent of Substance Use at Time of Program Entry
Chart II-A-9: Extent of Substance Use at Time of Program Entry: Juvenile Drug Court Participants
(c) Age at First Use
Chart II-A-10: Age at First Use of Juvenile Drug Court Participants
b. Family Drug Courts
(1) General Caseload Information
(2) Program Enrollment
(3) Extent of Drug Use and Age at First Use
3. Court Organizational Structure
B. Primary Program Goals
Chart II- B-1: Goals of Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
C. Eligibility Criteria
1. Juvenile Drug Courts
a. Types of Charges
b. Extent of Substance Use
c. Disqualifying Factors
2. Family Drug Courts
D. Drug Court Policies, Procedures, Organization and Drug Testing
1. Intake, Screening and Assessment
a. Juvenile Drug Courts
(1) Judicial System Procedures, Participant Screening and Assessment
Chart II-D-1 Agencies Performing Screening and Assessment: Juvenile Drug Courts
(2) Principal Changes Introduced by Juvenile Drug Courts in Screening and Assessment Process
b. Family Drug Courts
Chart II-D-2: Agencies Performing Screening and Assessment: Family Drug Courts
2. Case Management and Other Program Support Functions
a. Agencies Providing Case Management and Other Support Functions
Chart II-D-3: Agencies Performing Case Management and Other Support Functions:: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-D-4: Agencies Performing Case Management and Other Support Functions:: Family Drug Courts
b. Case Management and Other Support Functions Performed
(1) Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-D-5(1): Case Management and Other Program Support Functions Performed: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-D-5(2): Case Management and Other Program Support Functions Performed: Juvenile Drug Courts
(2) Family Drug Courts
Chart II-D-6 (1): Case Management and Other Support Functions Performed: Family Drug Courts
Chart II-D-6 (2): Case Management and Other Support Functions Performed: Family Drug Courts
3. Decision Making Authority
a. Decision to Accept Participant in Program
b. Decision to Maintain Participant in Program
c. Decision to Impose Sanctions on Participant for noncompliance
d. Decision to Terminate Participant from Program
4. Program Organization/Phases
5. Drug Testing
a. Frequency
Chart II-D-7: Drug Testing Frequency in Juvenile Drug Courts: Phase 1
Chart II-D-8: Drug Testing Frequency in Juvenile Drug Courts: Phase 2
Chart II-D-9: Drug Testing Frequency in Juvenile Drug Courts: Phase 3
Chart II-D-10: Drug Testing Frequency in Juvenile Drug Courts: Phase 4
b. Drugs For Which Tests Are Conducted
Chart II-D-11(1): Drugs Tested For Initially/Routinely: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-D-11(2): Drugs Tested For Initially/Routinely: Juvenile Drug Courts
c. Costs per drug screen
Chart II-D-12: Costs Per Drug Screen: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
d. Agencies Performing Urinalysis
Chart II-D-13: Agencies Performing Urinalysis: Juvenile Drug Courts
e. Timeframes and Methods for Reporting Urinalysis Results to Court
Chart II-D-14: Timeframe for Obtaining Urinalysis Results
f. Response to Positive Urinalysis
6. Program Policies Regarding Use of Pharmacotherapeutic Interventions
7. Program Policies Regarding Use of Alcohol
E. Services Provided to Juvenile and Family Drug Court Participants
1. Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided
Chart II-E-1(1): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1 (2): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1(3): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1(4): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1(5): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1(6): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-1(7): Type and Frequency of Treatment Services Provided: Juvenile Drug Courts and Family Drug Courts
2. Other Rehabilitation Services Provided
Chart II-E-2(1): Rehabilitation and Other Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-2(2): Rehabilitation and Other Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-2(3): Rehabilitation and Other Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
3. Other Community and Support Services Provided
Chart II-E-3(1): Other Community and Support Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug
CourtsChart II-E-3(2): Other Community and Support Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart II-E-3(3): Other Community and Support Services Provided by Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
4. Follow-up and Aftercare Services
Chart II-E-4(1): Aftercare Services: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-E-4(2): Aftercare Services: Juvenile Drug Courts
5. Participants with Mental Disorders
Chart II-E-5: Freuencxy of the Presence of Mental Disorders Among Juvenile and Family Drug Court Participants
Chart II-E-6: Services to Treat Mental Disorders: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-F-1: Types of Agencies Providing Treatment Services: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-F-2: Number of Treatment Providers Used: Juvenile Drug Courts
G. Frequency of Judicial Contact with Participants
1. Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-G-1: Frequency of Judicial Contact with Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Phases 1 and 2
Chart II-G-2: Frequency of Judicial Contact with Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Phase 3
Chart II-G-3: Frequency of Judicial Contact with Parents of Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Phases 1 and 2
Chart II-G-4: Frequency of Judicial Contact with Parents of Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Phase 3
2. Family Drug Courts
Chart II-G-5: Frequency of Judicial Contact with Family Drug Court Participants
Chart II-G-6: Frequency of Judicial contact with Children of Family Drug Court Participants
H. Responses to Participant Progress: Sanctions and Incentives
1. Sanctions for Non Compliance with Program Conditions
Chart II-H-1: Sanctions for Non Compliance: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-H-2: Use of Detention as a Sanction for Noncompliance: Juvenile Drug Courts
2. Incentives to Recognize Participant Progress
Chart II-H-3: Incentives to Recognize Participant Progress: Juvenile Drug Courts
I. Requirements for Program Completion
1. Requirements for Program Graduation/Completion
a. Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-I-1: Required Period of Program Participation for Graduation: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-I-2: Other Requirements for Program Graduation: Juvenile Drug Courts
b. Family Drug Courts
2. Reasons for Involuntary Termination
a. Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-I-3: Reasons for Involuntary Termination: Juvenile Drug Courts
b. Family Drug Courts
Chart II-I-4: Reasons for Involuntary Termination: Family Drug Courts
J. Changes in Court Procedures and Processes Required to Implement the Juvenile and Family Drug Court Programs
1. Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart II-J-1: Principal Changes in Procedures and Processes Required to Implement Juvenile Drug Courts
2. Family Drug Courts
Chart II-J-2: Principal Changes in Procedures and Processes Required to Implement Family Drug Courts
K. Establishment of New Locations for Service Provision
L. Program Costs, Fees Assessed, and Funding Sources
1. Program Costs Per Client/Family
Chart II-L-1: Program Costs Per Client/Family: Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
2. Fees Assessed
3. Funding Sources
Chart II-L-2: Juvenile Drug Court Funding Sources
Chart II-L -3: Family Drug Court Funding Sources
4. Impact of Managed Care
M. Comparison of Nature, Extent, and Availability of Treatment and Other Services Provided to Drug Court Participants with Services Provided to Non Drug Court Litigants
III. Program Evaluation and Assessment
A. Measures for Determining Effectiveness
1. Criteria for Assessing Program Effectiveness
Chart III-A(1): Criteria for Assessing Program Effectiveness: Juvenile Drug Courts
2. Information System Capabilities
Chart III-A-2(1): Information System Capabilities: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart III-A-2(2): Information System Capabilities: Juvenile Drug Courts
B. Available Recidivism and Sobriety Data
1. Recidivism
2. Sobriety
Chart III-B-1: Sobriety of Drug Court Participants and Graduates: Juvenile Drug Courts
2. Education and Employment
Chart III-B-2: Number of Juvenile Drug Court Participants Who Remained/Returned to School, Obtained High School Degree/GED and/or Obtained/Retained Employment: Juvenile Drug Courts
C. Family Preservation and Reunification
D. Birth of Drug Free Babies
IV. Planning and Implementation Issues Encountered and Strategies for Resolving Them
A. Need for Special Legislation
B. Protecting Confidentiality of Information and Communication
Chart IV-B(1): Strategies for Protecting Confidentiality: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart IV-B(2): Strategies for Protecting Participant Confidentiality � Family Drug Courts
C. Compelling Involvement of Parents and Guardians
Chart IV-C: Strategies for Compelling Involvement of Parents and Guardians in Juvenile Drug Court Proceedings
D. Determining Eligibility of Juveniles Involved in Gang Activity
Chart IV-D: Impact of Gang Involvement on Juvenile Drug Court Eligibility
E. Developing Special Linkages with the Schools
F. Developing Special Relationships With/Providing Special Resources to Families of Juveniles Involved in Juvenile and/or Family Drug Court Programs
Chart IV-F(2) Special Resources for Families Involved in Family Drug Court Proceedings
G. Addressing the Influence of Peers on Juveniles' Performance in the Drug Court
Chart IV-G: Strategies to Address Potential Negative Peer Influences on Juvenile Drug Court Participants
H. Minimizing Recidivism of Teenage Females Who Are involved with Prostitution
Chart IV-H: Strategies to Reduce Recidivism of Teenage Females Involved in Prostitution
V. Special Issues Addressed
A. Strategies Used to Obtain Jurisdiction over Parents/Guardians of Juvenile Drug Court Participants to Compel Compliance with Program Conditions
Chart V-A: Strategies to Obtain Jurisdiction over Parents/Guardians of Juvenile Drug Court Participants
B. Strategies Used to Assess Effectiveness of Existing and Potential Treatment Programs for Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart V-B(1): Strategies Used to Assess Treatment Program Effectiveness: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart V-B(2): Strategies used to Assess Treatment Program Effectiveness: Family Drug Courts
C. Most Serious Problems Encountered and Strategies for Resolving Them
Chart V- C (1): Most Serious Implementation Problems Encountered and Their Resolution: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart V- C (2): Most Serious Implementation Problems Encountered and Their Resolution: Family Drug Courts
D. Modifications and/or Enhancements Planned for Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
Chart V-D(1): Modifications and/or Enhancements Planned: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart V-D(2): Modifications and/or Enhancements Planned: Family Drug Courts
E. Advice to Colleagues Contemplating Implementation of a Juvenile or Family Drug Court
Chart V-E (1): Advice to Colleagues In Other Jurisdictions: Juvenile Drug Courts
F. Information Desired from Other Programs
Chart V-F(1) : Ideas and Information Desired From Other Jurisdictions: Juvenile Drug Courts
Chart V-F(2) : Ideas and Information Desired From Other Jurisdictions: Family Drug Courts
Appendix:
A. Respondents to the 1998 OJP DCCTAP Juvenile and Family Drug Court Survey
(1) Judges
(2) Other Program Contacts