Adult Drug Court is a voluntary, fourteen-to-eighteen month, multi-phase intervention program designed for adults involved in the criminal justice system due to underlying, unmanaged substance use disorders and are at increased risk of reoffending. Adult Drug Court utilizes evidence-based treatment and supervision measures to aid participants in achieving lasting recovery. Adult Drug Court involves frequent court appearances, random drug/alcohol testing, intensive community supervision and case management, and extensive substance use disorder treatment, including individual and group counseling. Adult Drug Courts help connect participants to community services and support, saving their lives, families, and futures while effectively preserving tax dollars.
Adult Drug Courts strive to increase public safety, decrease the incarceration of individuals with substance use disorders, and improve the quality of life for participants, families, and the community.
Adult Drug Court Team:
A dedicated multidisciplinary team of professionals manage the day-to-day operations of Adult Drug Court, including reviewing participant's progress during pre-court team meetings and status hearings, contributing observations and recommendations within team members' respective areas of expertise, and delivering or overseeing the delivery of legal, treatment, and supervision services.
The Adult Drug Court team is comprised of representatives from partnering agencies involved in the program, which includes the following:
- Judge
- Program Coordinator
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Defense Attorney
- Treatment Provider
- Probation Officer
- Law Enforcement Liaison
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for an Adult Drug Court:
- The person must be an adult;
- The person must be charged with a criminal offense;
- The person must not be charged with a serious felony offense involving violence as defined in A.C.A.§5-4-501 (c)(2);
- The person must not have a previous conviction or pending charge for a felony offense that would require the person to register as a sex offender;
- The person must have a moderate or severe substance use disorder and must be identified as clinically appropriate as determined by a validated clinical assessment tool;
- The person must be identified as high-risk/high-need as determined by a validated risk-need assessment tool;
- The person must be approved for admission by the Adult Drug Court team.
Admission Process:
- Step One: Application - A person or defense counsel may apply to Adult Drug Court through the program coordinator.
- Step Two: Preliminary Prosecutor Approval - The prosecuting attorney will determine if the person's pending case(s) and criminal history meet eligibility criteria.
- Step Three: Risk-Need Assessment - The person will complete a risk-need assessment.
- Step Four: Clinical Assessment - The person will complete a clinical assessment.
- Step Five: Team Review - The Adult Drug Court team will review the person's information, including the risk-need and clinical assessment findings, to determine program appropriateness.
Resources for Substance Use Treatment:
The Arkansas Department of Human Services offers substance use and mental health services to Arkansans in need of assistance.
Please contact the Mental Health and Addiction support line at 1-844-763-0198 to locate a local provider.
- Therapeutic Counseling Services Provider List: Click Here
- Community Mental Health Centers: Click Here
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment - State Funded: Click Here
Adult Drug Courts are subject to evaluation by the Specialty Court Program Advisory Committee under A.C.A. §16-10-139.