Blueprint for National Drug Court

This document published in 1987 led to the creation of the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) in 1989.
The numbered sections in the document represent the principles borrowed by the NDCI two years later.

Defining Drug Courts: The Ten Key Components

1. Drug Courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing.
2. Using a non-adversarial approach, prosecution and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due rights.
3. Eligible participants are identified early and promptly placed in the drug court program.
4. Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services.
5. Abstinence is monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing.
6. A coordinated strategy governs drug court responses to participants’ compliance.
7. Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant is essential.
8. Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness.
9. Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective drug court planning, implementation, and operations.
10. Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations generates local support and enhances drug court program effectiveness.

Source: The National Drug Court Institute

The Original Drug Court Blueprint

The National Drug Court Institute (NDCI), established in 1989, adopted nine principles from the Catonsville High-Risk Drug Project of 1985–86. These principles were first published by the American Probation and Parole Association in an account I wrote in 1987. The staff of the NDCI has both enlarged and improved my original blueprint.