Manual for Scientific Monitoring and Evaluation of Drug Treatment Courts in the Americas

Drug treatment courts (DTCs) emerged as one alternative to incarceration designed to address this issue. DTCs emphasize intensive community-based substance use treatment and supervision of addicted individuals charged with drug-related offenses, under judicial oversight. The DTC judge leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals that commonly includes representatives from the prosecutor's office, defense bar, treatment agencies, police, and probation department. The team members meet frequently to review participants' progress in treatment and make recommendations to the judge about suitable responses to impose for progress or lack thereof in treatment.