North Dakota (ND) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The North Dakota (ND) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) is requesting funding for a Statewide Category 3. ND DOCR operates 6 post-adjudication, adult hybrid drug courts (Drug/DUI). The six courts are operated in five cities (Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Jamestown).

The total federal award amount requested is $2,497,119 for the grant period.  Funds will be used to increase capacity, enhance services, and ensure consistency with the Best Practice Standards (BPS). The application focuses on BPS#10 (p. 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)—drug courts routinely monitor adherence to best practice standards and employ scientifically valid and reliable procedures to evaluate its effectiveness; BPS#9 (p. 4, 7, 11, )—drug court serves as many eligible individuals as practical while maintaining fidelity to BPS; and BPS#8 (p. 3, 8, 11, )—a multidisciplinary team manages operations and attends continuing education workshops on at least on annual basis. Expected outcomes BPS#10 are a matched-comparison outcome evaluation, cost-benefit evaluation, Correctional Program Checklist-Drug Court evaluation, BPS quarterly meetings for each drug court team, and development of a state-wide drug court electronic database. Expected outcomes for BPS#9 are to provide dedicated drug court coordinators. Currently, the role of the coordinator is combined with the probation officer for each court. Having a full-time court coordinator allows the court to serve more clients while maintaining fidelity to BPS. Finally, expected outcomes for BPS #8 are to obtain contracts with defense attorneys to represent participants and attendance at national training conferences, Many court staff have not attended national training due to a lack of funds.

The total number of participants that will receive services from this funding is approximately 780. The minimum length of each program is 1 year. In 2022, the average length of participation for the 6 courts was 336 days and the maximum was 782 days. 

The target population for each hybrid court is: non-violent, qualifying offense, agreement with drug court prosecution; an LSI-R risk score of moderate to high risk and have a substance use disorder. All drug courts in the State have access to medically assisted treatment for clients with opioid and/or alcohol use disorder.

None of the programs currently leverage other federal funding sources to support the courts. As of the award date, the applicant jurisdiction will not have an active treatment court grant.