Drug Court
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What is Drug Court The Drug Court is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to drug dependant individuals whose dependence has brought them into contact with the Criminal Justice System. Consistency and focus is provided by a single Drug Court Judge and dedicated program staff in order to bring about completion of all treatment, education and employment requirements. MissionTo divert alcohol and drug abusing non-violent felony offenders from the normal criminal justice process by providing frequent judicial oversight, intensive supervision, and treatment through a holistic approach to positively impact offender lifestyle and community safety. HistorySince the mid-1970's, many state and local criminal justice systems have been inundated with felony drug cases. Court dockets have become overloaded with drug cases and drug-involved offenders, leaving fewer resources available to adjudicate serious, violent felonies. During this same period, it has become increasingly clear that: (1) incarceration in and of itself does little to break the cycle of illegal drug use and crime, and offenders sentenced to incarceration for substance related offenses exhibit a high rate of recidivism once they are released; and (2) science-based drug abuse treatment is demonstrably effective in reducing both drug addiction, drug-related crime, and a variety of other tax supported human services while increasing employment and taxes paid. Beginning in the late 1980's, a number of jurisdictions have rethought their approach to handling defendants charged with drug and drug-related offenses and have developed "drug courts" for non-violent offenders whose involvement with the criminal justice system is due, primarily, to their drug abuse and addiction. Defendants eligible for the drug court program are identified as soon as possible after arrest and, if accepted into the program, are referred immediately to a multiphase out-patient treatment program entailing multiple weekly (often daily) contacts with the treatment provider for counseling, therapy and education; frequent urinalysis (usually at least weekly), frequent status hearings before the drug court judge (bi-weekly and more often at first); and a rehabilitation program entailing vocational, educational, family, medical, and other support services. The St. Louis Adult Felony Drug Court was implemented on April 7, 1997, after five months of intense planning and awards of funds from the City of St. Louis' Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and from the United States Department of Justice through its discretionary grant program. In October 1998 a Juvenile Drug Court was instituted and in January of 2002, a Family Drug Court was instituted. Current funding is provided from City of St. Louis General Funds through the Circuits annual budget request, Local Law Enforcement Block Grant through the city, State of MO Division of Youth Services, and the Office of the State Court Administrator. The St. Louis Adult Felony Drug Court comprises an active caseload of approximately 370 defendants charged with drug related crimes. The Juvenile Drug Court comprises an active caseload of between 15-20. The Family Drug Court comprises an active caseload of between 15-20 participants. There are currently over 400 active participants in the drug courts. Why We Need Drug CourtDrug use is a very serious problem in St. Louis and a key contributor to the high levels of crime. In 2002, the city was ranked number one for America's Most Dangerous Cities in that the crime level was worse than the national average. Levels of drug usage, drug types, number/types of drug arrests, and the economic costs to society are just some of the measures used to define the drug problem in our area. The St. Louis Drug Court acknowledges the significant correlation between drug use and crime and continues to make concerted efforts to diminish the problem. Adults A recent study reveals that 65 percent of all arrestees are under the influence of at least one drug when committing their crime. The fact is that everyone in the judiciary has learned that drug abuse and addiction impacts virtually every docket in every court in our nation. For several decades, drug use has shaped the criminal justice system. Drug offenders have moved through the criminal justice system in a predictable pattern: arrest, prosecution, conviction, incarceration, release and, for a large portion, reoffense...and then the process starts over again. This pattern has resulted in unprecedented building of jails and prisons unmatched in the world. As of June 2002, substance abuse offenders comprised nearly one-fourth (22%) of all Missouri prison inmates1. Of the total 29,771 incarcerated offenders, distribution/delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance constituted the most offenses, which carries an average year's sentence of 8.3 years1. Missouri's estimated annual economic cost to society from drug abuse is $2.3 billion. The benefits of the drug court programs relative to its costs are evident and compelling. As of July 1, 2000, 1,147 individuals graduated from Missouri drug courts at an average cost to the state of $5,042 a person; and drug court participants are still able to work and pay taxes. The cost of incarceration for these individuals would have been at least $14,000 a year per person. Moreover, the recidivism rate for drug court graduates is about 5% compared to about 45% for those not in drug court3. In comparison, the city of St. Louis incurred 4,855 drug arrests in 2001 with 501 (10%) being incarcerated and 1,743 (36%) being put on probation/parole2. Since 2001, drug arrests have continued to rise. Cocaine is the primary drug problem in St. Louis with marijuana ranking second. Moreover, ready availability and extensive demand for these drugs will continue to be major threats to St. Louis. Regarding mortality, of the sixty-seven total drug related deaths in 2001, thirty-four were associated with cocaine, denoting the added danger involved with this drug. Juveniles It should be noted that most research on the prevalence of illicit drugs is obtained via surveys distributed at public schools. Given that dropping out of school is highly correlated with drug use and crime; such data is likely to be understated. This reality alone presents a major cause of concern for St. Louis. "Youth substance abuse can lead to many other problems, including the development of delinquent behavior, anti-social attitudes, and health-related issues. These problems not only affect the child, but can also influence the child's family, community, and ultimately society"4. The Missouri 2002 Student Survey shows that almost 80% of Missouri students have illegally tried alcohol by the time they completed 12th grade and nearly 14% of students reported use of marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, or hallucinogens in the past 30 days while 28.2% reported lifetime use. High school seniors reported the highest use of cocaine, which exceeded the 2001 national rate. Sophomores also ranked higher than the national average for use in last 30 days. In 2001, over fifty percent of Missouri's high school seniors had used marijuana while twenty-four percent were currently using. Again, these numbers ranked above the national average indicating a prominent need for treatment and control. Overall, juvenile court referrals for adolescent alcohol/drug offenses and violent offenses continue to increase. Notably, the highest risks ascertained for the city of St. Louis are juvenile arrest rates for drug possession and juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes; the only other significant risk is the percentage of high school dropouts which was at almost 17% from 2000-20012. Since 2001, drug arrests have continued to increase. Furthermore, the St. Louis area assumed the highest rate of lifetime and past month use of illicit drugs in all of Missouri at 34.6% and 17.4% respectively. Family A basis for intervention with drug-exposed infants is the belief that the mother will abuse or neglect the child in the future; hence, the imperative need to control the levels of drug abuse among pregnant mothers. Nationally, among pregnant women aged 15 to 44 years, 3.7 percent reported using illicit drugs within the last month (based on the combined 2000 and 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse samples). This rate was significantly lower than the rate among women aged 15 to 44 who were not pregnant (8.3 percent). Among pregnant women aged 15 to 17, the rate of use was 15.1 percent, nearly equal to the rate for non-pregnant women of the same age (14.1 percent). In 2001, two hundred and fifty-five babies were born drug affected in Missouri2. While these numbers have steadily declined since 1995, the drug court works to continue the effort. The Missouri Division of Family Services reported that almost 15% of the probable cause incidents in Missouri were due to drug and alcohol related problems6. In addition, in thirty-eight percent of the child fatality cases in 2000, drugs and alcohol were determined to be the primary risk factor. In St. Louis city, cocaine is the most often used drug by females; hence the high number of cocaine-affected babies. Regarding child placement, 18% (117 of 649) of out-of-home placements of children were due to parental drug use in 20002. Another 5.7% of placements were attributed to a combination of drug and alcohol use by the parent(s).
You can view the PDF version of the Drug Court Adult Participant Manual by clicking the Drug Court Participant's Manual PDF. This PDF file will open in a new window. This PDF file
requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Program Materials / Forms Participant's Handbook - Adult Felony Drug
Court Contact us at MWillia4@courts.mo.gov for the following Drug Court documents: Policies and Procedures Manual Court Order for Community Service Does Drug Court Work? Drug Court Research Shows:
(Office of Justice Programs Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project, November 2002)
Individual therapy Assessment of defendants for Drug Court eligibility are
based on the following criteria: There is a $250 Drug Court fee that you must pay while in the program. Payments are to be made directly to the clerk/cashier in Room 102 on the first floor of the court building. The cashier will give you a receipt to show to the Commissioner each time you make a payment. Try to pay a small amount (at least $5) each time you come to court. If you are doing well in the program, the Commissioner might reward you by giving you credits on your Drug Court fee. How long is drug court?
What Happens at Graduation? / Will my charges be dismissed if I complete drug court? Graduation ceremonies take place every other month to recognize the accomplishments of the graduates. At this ceremony, a defendant who successfully completes the Drug Court Program will have his or her original case dissolved. Family and friends are invited to the graduations as well as community leaders and those interested in witnessing positive changes in the community. This program is an excellent example of what cooperation between criminal justice agencies can achieve in establishing a swift and fair justice system that results in the rehabilitative, most cost-effective adjudication of defendants at the least expense to the taxpayers. How do I request drug court?Ask your attorney/public defender or judge if drug court is an option in your case. If yes, the judge will refer you for a drug court assessment to determine your eligibility.
Is This a "Soft-on-Crime" Prevention Program? Drug Courts across the country rely on sanctions, including terms of incarceration and increased drug testing and supervision, to respond to program failure. They provide comprehensive hands-on supervision and monitoring and require far more contact with the judicial personnel than any other case management approach. In addition, the programs require participation in drug testing, educational and rehabilitation classes (and often more time in custody) than have ever been required before. Drug Courts are tougher on offenders; it is hard work getting and staying clean and sober. News/Articles/ResearchMore articles coming soon! Related SitesBureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
Alcoholics Anonymous Circuit Drug Court Committee Advisory Board Coming Soon EmploymentSorry there are no current listings Contact UsSt. Louis Drug Court
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