Drug Courts

The first Washington drug court was established in Pierce County in 1994. Now, 12 Washington counties operate 14 drug courts. Washington drug courts were created to stop criminal activity related to the abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. Instead of imprisonment, drug court participants must adhere to a strict program of treatment and counseling, and must submit themselves to periodic urine tests to prove compliance. The court also sets educational and work requirements. This diversionary treatment program is intended to save money by keeping offenders from re-entering the system and committing new offenses-a study of Pierce County's drug court shows it costs a third of traditional programs for drug offenders. Each drug court is uniquely designed to meet the specific needs of an individual community. However, the requirements for participant eligibility and graduation are relatively similar.

One fundamental prerequisite is that drug court participation is voluntary. Participants sign a contract that addresses their specific needs and if they successfully graduate the court may dismiss the original charge, reduce or set aside a sentence, offer some lesser penalty, or offer a combination of these. On the other hand, if a participant drops out of the program or fails to complete his or her individual plan, he or she must waive the right to a trial and serve a predetermined criminal sentence.

Most Washington counties only have an adult program. However, in recent years juvenile drug courts have been gaining momentum. In 1999, King County opened a juvenile court, which is Washington's third, with smaller juvenile drug courts already operating in Clallam and Kitsap counties.