Drug Courts

Drug Courts offers a choice and options to individuals whose criminal charges stem from alcohol and other drug abuse, alcoholism and addiction. The court may dismiss the original charge, reduce the sentence, set aside a sentence, or offer some lesser penalty, once an individual completes treatment.

Adult Drug Court

The judge is the central figure in this team effort. The Drug Court team focuses on sobriety from alcohol, abstinence from drugs, and being accountable for treatment participation and recovery progress. The judge takes on the role of trying to keep participants active in treatment by reinforcing success. Treatment providers focus on engaging and maintaining the individual in treatment and the recovery process, as well as keeping the Court informed of each person's progress. The judge positively reinforces the person for staying involved with treatment and recovery, but the judge can also penalize the person if they do not follow through with the treatment and recovery plan.

Drug Courts have clear rules. These rules are easy to understand, and success is up to the individual. For example, the participant appears in court or does not, attends treatment sessions or does not. Frequent drug tests reveal drug use or abstinence. The results are directly communicated to the judge, who rewards progress or penalizes noncompliance. Drug courts present clear choices, and encourage each individual to take control of their own recovery.

Please use this link for more information about the King County Drug Diversion Court Program

Juvenile Drug Court

Similar to the Adult Drug Court described above, a team of court and treatment professionals track a youth's progress regularly. Each hearing is led by a juvenile court judge. Criminal charges may be dismissed, depending on the participants' crime and/or their progress in the program.

See Juvenile Drug Court