Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts

Soon after the advent of Adult Drug Treatment Courts, Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts (JDTCs) began in Key West FL in 1993 according to American University. As of June 2016, there were 420 JDTCs in the U.S.

The Differences

There are many differences between Adult and Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts. First, the Court and treatment must recognize that the human brain is still developing up to age 25. That means that things like impulse control and executive decision making are lacking in the younger brain. There is a focus on changing behavior of the juvenile both in the Court and in treatment.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, “Between 65 percent and 70 percent of the 2 million children and adolescents arrested each year in the United States have a mental health disorder.” Addressing the mental health needs of juveniles is imperative although most youth are not “addicted” in the adult sense.

Children and adults may use drugs for different reasons and the genesis of substance use must be addressed as well. Finally, in JDTCs the emphasis is on healing the whole family and reintegrating the youth back into the community.

Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Although Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders and other stressors are quite common in adults with substance use disorders, the figures for girls who find themselves in the juvenile justice system are overwhelming.

Family stressors include poverty, death, and an intergenerational pattern of arrest/incarceration. 54% of girls have mothers who have been arrested/incarcerated
95% of girls lack a stable home environment;
91% have been suspended, expelled or repeated one or more grades. School is described as a “battleground” with sexual harassment, racism, interpersonal rivalries with peers and inattention from adults. Dropping out is seen as a necessary means of escape.
88% experience serious health problems; 53% need psychological services; and, 21% have been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility.
Girls’ and women’s pathways to offending is victimization. 92% of juvenile female offenders report some form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
Girls age 13-14 are most likely to be beaten, stabbed, shot or raped. 25% report being shot or stabbed one or more times
11% of girls witnessed or experienced the death of one or both parents or a sibling
75% of girls report regular use of alcohol and other drugs by age 14.
Victimization and substance abuse correlates with multiple risky behaviors such as truancy, unsafe sexual activity and gang involvement.
29% of girls had been pregnant one or more times; 16% have been pregnant while in custody
47% report gang affiliation
2/3 of the girls are of color, primarily African American and Latina
Girls in and on the edge of the juvenile justice system have traditionally represented one of the least-served juvenile justice populations.

“Investing in Girls: A 21^st Century Strategy,” VI JUVENILE JUSTICE JOURNAL 3

NCJ 178254 (Oct. 1999)

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has developed 16 Strategies for planning and managing a Juvenile Drug Treatment Court.

Collaborative Planning - Engage all stakeholders in creating an interdisciplinary, coordinated, and systemic approach to working with youth and their families. Learn more...
Teamwork - Develop and maintain an interdisciplinary, non-adversarial work team. Learn more...
Clearly Defined Target Population and Eligibility Criteria - Define a target population and eligibility criteria that are aligned with the program's goals and objectives. Learn more...
Judicial Involvement and Supervision - Schedule frequent judicial reviews and be sensitive to the effect that court proceedings can have on youth and their families. Learn more...
Monitoring and Evaluation - Establish a system for program monitoring and evaluation to maintain quality of service, assess program impact, and contribute to knowledge in the field. Lead more...
Community Partnerships - Build partnerships with community organizations to expand the range of opportunities available to youth and their families. Learn more...
Comprehensive Treatment Planning - Tailor interventions to the complex and varied needs of youth and their families. Learn more...
Developmentally Appropriate Services - Tailor treatment to the developmental needs of adolescents. Learn more...
Gender-Appropriate Services - Design treatment to address the unique needs of each gender. Learn more...
Cultural Competence - Create policies and procedures that are responsive to cultural differences and train personnel to be culturally competent. Learn more...
Focus on Strengths - Maintain a focus on the strengths of youth and their families during program planning and in every interaction between the court and those it serves. Learn more...
Family Engagement - Recognize and engage the family as a valued partner in all components of the program. Learn more...
Educational Linkages - Coordinate with the school system to ensure that each participant enrolls in and attends an educational program that is appropriate to his or her needs. Learn more...
Drug Testing - Design drug testing to be frequent, random, and observed. Document testing policies and procedures in writing. Learn more...
Goal-Oriented Incentives and Sanctions - Respond to compliance and noncompliance with incentives and sanctions that are designed to reinforce or modify the behavior of youth and their families. Learn more...
Confidentiality - Establish a confidentiality policy and procedures that guard the privacy of the youth while allowing the drug court team to access key information. Learn more...

JDTCs are receiving better evaluations than they have traditionally and one would expect to see more developing as part of the 3,000 drug courts in the U.S.