More than 1,540 individuals in Riverside County have successfully completed the programs provided by the Riverside County Drug Court since its inception in 1995. Riverside County operates four adult offender drug court programs in locations including Blythe, Indio, and Riverside. Riverside County Drug Court has positively transformed the lives of many Riverside County residents through addiction treatment and recovery. Riverside County Drug Court is part of 13 Collaborative Treatment Courts countywide.
Recognizing 30 years of success in 2019, treatment courts nationwide follow a model of supervision, structure, and evidence-based treatment in place of incarceration to help offenders regain control of their lives. There are more than 2,700 Drug Courts operating in the United States, serving over 150,000 people annually.
Riverside County Drug Court is part of a national movement of judicial involvement to provide a different path through the criminal justice system for those defendants with substance use and mental health disorders.
In administering Drug Court, Riverside County also partners with the Riverside University Health System, Riverside County Superior Court, as well as the District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation Department, and Department of Public Social Services for the county, as well as many other community partners and organizations.
These courts are highly structured, intensive outpatient treatment programs designed for felony, non-violent, substance use offenders. These types of courts represent a collaborative approach that includes teams comprised of members of the judicial system and the Department of Mental Health.
The goals of Drug Courts are to
- eliminate drug use and criminal behavior among participants;
- reduce state prison costs by diverting participants from prison; and
- reduce congested court calendars and other associated administrative costs.
Riverside County Drug Court offers a rigorous two-year program that rehabilitates offenders and helps them recover from substance abuse. Each year, hundreds of Riverside County residents are provided opportunities for healing their addictions and transforming their lives, causing a positive ripple effect in communities throughout Riverside County.
Participants and graduates enter a new phase of life with a commitment to ongoing recovery. Additionally, they pledge and commit to giving back to the Coachella Valley and Riverside County communities that have provided support, encouragement, and leadership. Perhaps most importantly, participants reunite with their families and begin the process of stabilizing and strengthening the important relationships therein.
If you are experiencing problems with substance abuse and have been charged with a crime, the resolution of your matter through the Riverside County Drug Court may be an option. John Patrick Dolan is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, the highest achievement awarded by the State Bar of California to attorneys in the field of criminal law. Call today at (760) 775-3739 or find out more online here.
