Justice Department Announces Over $13 Million in Grants to Improve Adult Drug Courts Across 41 Jurisdictions

The Department of Justice today announced awards totaling more than $13 million to 41 state, local and tribal jurisdictions and courts to help improve drug court programs through evidence-based principles and practices.

The awards, funded under the 2016 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, provide government court systems financial and technical assistance to develop and implement programs for substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services for substance abusers.

“Adult drug court” is a court program managed by a multidisciplinary team that responds to the offenses and treatment needs of participants who have a drug addiction.

“Drug court is an effective and cost-efficient alternative to incarceration that encourages accountability, promotes rehabilitation, and gives individuals with a history of substance abuse a meaningful second chance at life,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.  “With these grants, the Department of Justice is deepening its investment in these vital programs, and we are reaffirming our vision of a criminal justice system that is not just an instrument of punishment, but also an agent of positive change.”

Adult Drug Courts enable a participant’s likelihood of successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially-supervised treatment; mandatory periodic drug testing; community supervision; appropriate sanctions and other services.

Additional information about the Drug Court Program is available at http://go.usa.gov/xZHrY.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.