Table of Contents

• Background
  
• Defining Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
  
• Goals of Juvenile and Family Drug Courts
  
• Juvenile and Family Drug Courts vs. The Traditional Court Process
  
• Juvenile and Family Drug Court Structure
  
• Program Design
  
• Critical Issues Unique to Juvenile and Family Drug Court Programs
  
• Important Collaborations
  
• Conclusion
  
• For More Information
  
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The Office of Justice Programs Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project (DCCTAP) at American University, sponsored by the Drug Courts Program Office of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, compiles operational and evaluative information on adult, juvenile, and family drug court programs throughout the United States. Summary reports of drug court activities are published and updated periodically by the DCCTAP, to reflect current developments, emerging issues, experiences reported by local drug court officials, and observations of staff during the course of providing technical assistance to local jurisdictions. Juvenile and Family Drug Courts: An Overview updates our Preliminary Report on juvenile drug courts published in November 1996 and reflects information provided by juvenile and family drug courts operating in 17 States as of January 1, 1998, including one tribal court.

This report was prepared by the Office of Justice Programs Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project at the American University, Washington, DC. This project is supported by Grant No. 95-DC-MX-K002 awarded by the Drug Courts Program Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.