About:

Funds for Louisiana’s drug courts are administered by the Supreme Court Drug Court Office (SCDCO). The SCDCO awards funds annually to programs and monitors each program’s operations throughout the year.

Louisiana’s drug courts are demanding programs that require frequent drug testing, intensive treatment, judicial oversight, and community supervision and support to ensure the best possible outcomes for offenders with substance abuse problems. While more intensive, these programs are typically less expensive and ultimately more effective than those associated with involvement in traditional correction and supervision settings.

KEY COMPONENTS:

Louisiana’s drug courts are based on the following key components for drug courts developed by the U.S. Department of Justice. These components serve as a touchstone for program planning, operations, and evaluation.

• Drug courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing.

• Using a non-adversarial approach, prosecution and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due process rights.

• Eligible participants are identified early and promptly placed in the drug court program.

• Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services.

• Abstinence is monitored by frequent testing for alcohol and other drugs.

• A coordinated strategy governs drug court responses to participants’ compliance.

• Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant is essential.

• Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness.

• Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective drug court planning, implementation, and operations.

• Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations generates local support and enhances drug court program effectiveness.

Resource Links:

Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL) is a nonprofit behavioral healthcare facility with an emphasis on addiction treatment. Odyssey House Louisiana

Metropolitan Human Service District (MHSD) can provide and coordinate, directly and through community collaboration, a range of services to address mental health, addictive disorders and developmental disability needs among the citizens of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. Metropolitan Human Service District

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

Responsibility House serves the community by providing support and counseling to dedicated families and individuals who struggle with substance abuse, homelessness, mental illness and/or HIV/AIDS. Responsibility House, Inc