Santa Cruz County Juvenile Drug Court

The Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program is designed to assist states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments in developing and establishing drug courts for substance-abusing adult and juvenile offenders. Drug court programs funded by the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program are required by law to target nonviolent offenders. The Program supports the following activities: Adult drug court implementation, Juvenile drug court implementation, Family drug court implementation, Single jurisdiction drug court enhancement, Statewide drug court enhancement, and planning efforts.

The Santa Cruz County Juvenile Drug Court (SCJDC) will implement a drug court for nonviolent, substance-abusing male and female juvenile offenders living in the predominantly Latino city of Watsonville and southern Santa Cruz County. The post-adjudication juvenile drug court will serve more than 150 individuals (75 juveniles and at least one family member for each juvenile) through a culturally competent, strengths-based treatment program lasting up to 12 months, including 3 months of aftercare, over the 3-year grant period.
The main goals of the program are to: (1) reduce substance abuse; (2) reduce client involvement in the juvenile justice system; (3) strengthen families; and (4) improve school performance and vocational opportunities. Services will include primary and mental health services, educational development, job readiness and placement, independent living skills, mentoring, transportation, and recreational activities.

CA/NCF