Defining a Drug Court and the 10 Key Components

Colorado Problem Solving Courts Adult Unified Standards Best Practices Manual

Topics:  Principles and guidelines, recommended training and education, historically disadvantaged groups, team member roles and responsibilities

Description: An overview of the recommended eligibility, identification/assessment, treatment, case management, evaluation, and coordination of services in a problem-solving court based upon the review of research and national guidelines.

Resource Type: Guidance Document

Length: 41 pages

Agency/Author: Colorado Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee

Year Published: 2022

Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components

Topics: 10-Key Component, drug court best practices, performance benchmarks

Description: “Defining Drug Courts – The Key Components” – is a 32 page document that explains in specifics of each of the 10 Key Components for multidisciplinary teams to follow.

Resource Type: Guidance Document

Length: 32 Pages

Agency/Author: National Association of Drug Court Professionals

Year Published: 1997

Defining Drug Courts: The Ten Key Components and Why They Matter

Topics: 10-key components, research, history

Description: This presentation walks through the background and basis for the rise of drug courts and how using the 10 Key Components leads to successful drug court programs.  The presentation includes statistical data and presents evidence based practices and explanations.

Resource Type: PowerPoint Slides

Length: 37 slides

Agency/Author: Magistrate Marla Garrett

Year Published: Unknown

National Drug Court Institute Best Practice Standards Vol. I & II

Topics: Target population, historically disadvantaged groups, roles and responsibilities of the judge, incentives/sanctions/therapeutic adjustments, substance abuse treatment, complementary treatment/social services, drug and alcohol testing, multidisciplinary team, census and caseloads, monitoring and evaluation

Description: This groundbreaking set of evidence-based standards is your blueprint to dramatically improve outcomes for individuals involved in the justice system due to substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Representing 25 years of empirical study on addiction, pharmacology, behavioral health, and criminal justice, these Standards are the foundation upon which all adult drug courts must operate. They hold the keys to transform how the justice system responds to people in crisis.

Resource Type: Guidance Documents

Length: 72 pages (Vol. I) & 92 pages (Vol. II)

Agency/Author: 2013 (Vol. I) & 2015 (Vol. II)

Year Published: National Association of Drug Court Professionals