Veterans Drug Court

The purpose of the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (42 U.S.C. 3797u et seq.) is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop and implement drug treatment courts that effectively integrate substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting with jurisdiction over nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders. The FY 2010 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program will provide grant funds to jurisdictions to implement or enhance a local drug court or to improve, enhance, expand, or financial support drug court services statewide.

The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department will use the grant funds to enhance its existing drug court program to include a veterans' track. In the past 18 months, there has been a 75 percent increase in the number of veterans referred to the drug court. The grant award will fund an ongoing caseload of 50 participants who will be served and supervised in the specialized track for veterans. This will be done by developing a network of treatment and recovery support providers and enhancing court services. The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department will collaborate with the Veterans Administration in developing an entry criteria tool to be used at the pre-sentence stage for early identification and increased community supervision. Grant funds will support personnel, supplies, consultants, and travel for field supervision and training.

CA/NCF