Durham Youth Treatment Court Implementation

The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) will use grant funds to implement a juvenile drug court in Durham County for nonviolent, substance abusing, male and female, juvenile offenders. The drug court program will serve 150 juveniles in a 6-18 month post-adjudicatory program over a three-year grant period. The principal objectives of this program are to eliminate substance abuse; hold juveniles and parents/guardians accountable for behavior; support interagency collaboration and accountability; provide incentives and praise to juveniles and their families; protect public safety; and provide assessment, behavioral and substance abuse treatment. Drug court services will include regular judicial supervision, intensive treatment, a schedule of incentives and sanctions, and frequent mandatory drug testing. The Durham Youth Treatment Court will incorporate collateral services such as education, mental and primary health care, and employment. An independent evaluator will conduct process and outcome evaluations to gauge program effectiveness. The grant recipient will coordinate the drug court effort with the following agencies or offices: Durham Center Child and Family Services, A New Day Reporting Center, Duke University, Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee, NCAOC's Technology Services Division, Division of Community Correction, NC Office of Juvenile Justice, NC State Bar, and the Department of Corrections.