Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts

Overview

Juvenile drug treatment courts are designed specifically for youth in the juvenile justice system who have substance use disorders or co-existing substance use and mental health disorders. Multidisciplinary teams provide treatment and recovery services to the young people, emphasizing accountability to reduce recidivism, improve outcomes, and enhance public safety. Teams also work with families to strengthen relationships and involvement, aiming to support healthy home settings and keep families together.

Funding and Programs

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program

OJJDP provides funding to states, state and local courts, local government units, and federally recognized Tribal governments to plan and implement new juvenile drug treatment courts and enhance existing ones. Multidisciplinary teams—comprising judges, prosecutors, corrections officers, social workers, and treatment professionals—work together to promote youth accountability, support their recovery, and equip them with skills to lead productive, substance-free lives.

Additional Resources

• Adolescent Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care
• National Treatment Court Resource Center
• National Juvenile Treatment Court Dashboard

Publications

• Final Report of the Cross-Site Evaluation of the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (JDTC) Guidelines: Executive Summary
• From Referral to Treatment: Implementation Processes in Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Programs
• Perceived and Actual Knowledge Gain Among Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Team Members: A Pre-Post Analysis of On-Site Training and Technical Assistance
• Starting a Juvenile Drug Court: A Planning Guide

Stay Informed

OJJDP is a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the U.S. Department of Justice. For updates on programs that support communities and advance justice throughout the country, subscribe to Justice Programs News & Funding a twice-monthly email newsletter. To receive weekly updates on open funding opportunities, sign up for Funding News, a notice of new grant releases and application tips.