Drug Courts

Background

Florida started the national drug court movement in 1989 by creating the first drug court in the United States in Miami-Dade County.

In the years since Florida pioneered the drug court concept, numerous studies have confirmed that drug courts significantly reduce crime, provide better treatment outcomes, and produce better cost benefits than other criminal justice strategies.

The Florida Legislature has a long history of proactively addressing drug-related crime.

• In 1993, the Legislature provided for pretrial substance abuse education and treatment intervention programs for eligible nonviolent felony offenders (see Section 948.08(6), Florida Statutes, 1993). These pretrial intervention programs are the precursors to the many forms of drug courts that exist today in Florida.
• In 2001, the Legislature stated its intent that drug courts be implemented “in each judicial circuit in an effort to reduce crime and recidivism, abuse and neglect cases, and family dysfunction by breaking the cycle of addiction which is the most predominant cause of cases entering the justice system. The Legislature recognizes that the integration of judicial supervision, treatment, accountability, and sanctions greatly increases the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment.” (see Section 397.334, Florida Statutes, 2001)
• In 2009, the Florida Legislature appropriated Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant stimulus funds to expand adult post-adjudicatory drug courts to divert prison-bound offenders who are appropriate for participation in drug court. The federal grant funding expired in June 2013 and the state is now providing recurring funding to continue the program.

Current Status

As of October 2023, 51 adult drug courts, 14 juvenile drug courts, 13 dependency drug courts, and 4 DUI courts are in operation in Florida.

According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals 2020 Drug Court Fact Sheet, there are more than 4,000 drug courts serving 150,000 individuals annually in the United States.