Drug Court

In communities throughout the United States, drug courts are dramatically changing the way the criminal justice system deals with drug-using offenders. Drug courts have been more successful than other forms of community supervision in closely supervising drug offenders in the community. These courts place and retain drug offenders in treatment programs, who may have not received such services in the past. The goal of this program is to substantially reduce drug use and criminal recidivism while offenders are in the program.

In 1997, Anne Arundel County initiated its first coordinated Drug Court effort. The program has fostered partnerships between the State's Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Health Department, the Judicial system, employment specialists, Parole and Probation, The Detention Center, and other community organizations. The primary objective is to offer offenders, regardless of income, the opportunity to stop drug use by completing drug treatment. By choosing to participate in the drug court program, they may avoid the full consequence of prosecution and re-enter the community as better, more productive citizens.

For further information, please contact Janet Simpson at 410-260-1867.