what is treatment court in pa

Full Answer

What is a treatment court?

These innovative courts-sometimes referred to as treatment courts-focus on specific types of behaviors or conditions, often linked to crime and social problems. These behavioral problems, particularly drug addiction and untreated severe mental illness, have a major impact on the courts, jails and prisons.

When was the Pennsylvania Treatment Court Professionals organization established?

The Pennsylvania Treatment Court Professionals organization was established in 1999. The first Treatment Court in the United States was a drug court which was started in 1989. It was located in Miami- Dade County, Florida.

What is a problem solving court in PA?

Problem-Solving Courts. The first problem-solving court in Pennsylvania opened in Philadelphia in 1997 as an adult drug court program. Since then, the problem-solving court movement in the Commonwealth has expanded to include driving under the influence (DUI) courts, mental health courts, juvenile drug courts and veterans courts.

What are the different types of courts in Pennsylvania?

They include Drug Courts (Juvenile & Adult), Mental Health Courts, DUI Courts, Veterans Courts and Family Courts. The Pennsylvania Treatment Court Professionals organization was established in 1999. The first Treatment Court in the United States was a drug court which was started in 1989.

How many counties in Pennsylvania have treatment courts?

As of 2020, fifty-one Counties in Pennsylvania have established Treatment Courts. Several counties have multiple programs that they have established over the years.

Where are treatment courts located?

Today, Treatment Courts are located in every US state and territory, as well as other countries. In April of 1997, Philadelphia began operation of the first adult drug court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Later that year, similar programs began operation in Chester, Lycoming and York Counties.

How long does a treatment court last?

Treatment court participants are in the program for about one year, but can be in longer.

Where was the first treatment court?

The first Treatment Court in the United States was a drug court which was started in 1989. It was located in Miami- Dade County, Florida. This was a new effort to combat the crack cocaine epidemic that occurred in the Eighties. Today, Treatment Courts are located in every US state and territory, as well as other countries.

What is PATCP in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Association of Treatment Professionals (PATCP) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the establishment of Treatment Courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Treatment Courts are also known as problem solving courts or specialty courts.

What is treatment court?

Treatment courts are the single most successful intervention in our nation’s history for leading people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability. Instead of viewing addiction as a moral failing, they view it as a disease. Instead of punishment, they offer treatment.

How do treatment courts help?

They employ a holistic approach that goes beyond simply treating substance use disorders. They improve education, employment, housing, and financial stability; promote family reunification; reduce foster care placements; and increase the rate of mothers with substance use disorders delivering fully drug-free babies.

Why are treatment courts important?

Treatment courts uphold the enduring, absolute value of every human person and embody compassion towards the most vulnerable in our justice system. Reducing the stigma of substance use and mental health disorders has never been more important as our nation battles the opioid epidemic. Leading the way, treatment courts provide access to evidence-based medication-assisted treatment —including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone—to tens of thousands of Americans each year.

How did treatment courts change the justice system?

Treatment courts introduced humanity in a system that has relied on inhumane tactics for far too long, thereby changing our national perspective on what it means to serve justice. The principles of treatment courts have given rise to other incarceration alternatives, diversion programs, and sentencing reforms. In this way, they are the foundation of the current justice system reform movement in the US.

When was the first drug court in Florida?

In 1989 , the first drug court launched in Miami-Dade County, Florida, laying the foundation for what is now more than three decades of justice system reform. Treatment courts prove that providing supervision, structure and evidence-based treatment was a far more successful approach to substance use and mental health disorders than incarceration alone.

What is treatment court?

These innovative courts — sometimes referred to as treatment courts — focus on specific types of behaviors or conditions, often linked to crime and social problems. These behavioral problems, particularly drug addiction and untreated severe mental illness, have a major impact on the courts, jails and prisons.

What do drug courts do?

Working with criminal justice partners, drug courts combine judicial supervision, treatment, sanctions and incentives to help break the cycle of drug addiction and crime. Learn more.

What is mental health court?

Mental health courts partner with policymakers to divert defendants with mental illness into judicially supervised programs. Learn more.

What is the goal of problem solving courts?

The goal of problem-solving courts is to supervise the treatment and rehabilitation of carefully screened and selected defendants to try to change their behavior. Instead of a jail sentence, defendants are given counseling, treatment for their addictions or illnesses, educational assistance and healthcare support.

When did the first problem solving court in Pennsylvania open?

The first problem-solving court in Pennsylvania opened in Philadelphia in 1997 as an adult drug court program.

When did the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recognize problem solving courts?

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania officially recognized problem-solving courts in 2006, appointing a statewide coordinator and establishing an advisory committee to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to support these programs.

Why is it important to divert nonviolent defendants into a problem solving court?

Diverting certain nonviolent defendants into a problem solving court rather than jail has been shown to stem the number of repeat offenders, trim costly jail expenses, improve lives and strengthen families.