Announcements

Two of the 36^th District Court’s mentor treatment court programs have received national recognition as mentor courts by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). Both programs will receive awards marking these distinctions on Thursday, May 19th in Detroit, Michigan.

National mentor courts are exemplary treatment courts that have been selected to serve three-year terms as models for other programs to learn from and emulate. The receipt of any such distinction is highly selective, with only a handful of Courts throughout the nation having been chosen to serve in this capacity. These top-tier programs follow evidence-based best practices and play significant roles in the areas of national training, technical assistance, and research.  

As part of the mentor court network for 2022-2024, the 36^th District Court will help develop, identify, and test national best practices and provide technical assistance to jurisdictions interested in implementing such programs, including hosting site visits by team members from other jurisdictions around the country.

Stated NADCP Chief of Training and Research Carolyn Hardin: “A combination of accountability and treatment can save lives, reunite families, and make the community safer. As a mentor court, this program is helping to transform our justice system and leading countless people who might otherwise be incarcerated into lives of long-term recovery.”

There are now nearly 4,000 treatment courts nationwide, including more than 475 veterans’ treatment courts. These programs are considered by many to be the cornerstone of justice reform.

The 36^th District Court Veterans Treatment Court began in November 2010. During this time, 50 veterans have successfully graduated from the program without reoffending, and are productive citizens of the community. The 36^th District Court Veteran’s Treatment Court has always been eager to serve those who have selflessly sacrificed for their Country.  In Treatment Court, our veterans are given the utmost respect despite the challenges they may be facing.  The Treatment Court team is trained to identify the needs of our veterans and serve them irrespective of the circumstances that caused them to encounter the court system. While in Treatment Court, veterans are connected to benefits through the Veterans Administration, mentored by a veteran, and provided wrap-around services to assist them with life after Treatment Court. 

The 36^th District Court’s Drug Treatment Court started in November 1998.  For the past twenty-four (24) years, defendants have relied on the support and expertise of the Treatment Court team to assist them in their battles with substance use.  Drug Treatment Court provides a vehicle for defendants to rebuild their lives, restore their families, and experience help instead of punishment via the court system.  As a result, hundreds of participants have successfully completed the program and are gainfully employed, reunited with their families, and living as productive members of society.  Drug Treatment Court also provides the opportunity for all involved justice system partners to work together to build a better community.

NADCP’s mentor court network is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. To learn more about the Veterans Treatment Court, visit www.36thdistrictcourt.org.