Juvenile Drug Court

A program sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts that provides education, prevention and accountability to juveniles and their families

The growing drug and alcohol epidemic among young people presents unique challenges to schools, families, communities, law enforcement and the juvenile court system. Substance abuse can have a long-term, negative affect on Kentucky’s youth and their families. The goal of Juvenile Drug Court is to treat a participant’s current issues with substance abuse, deter future problems with drugs and alcohol, and enhance his or her potential for success in school. JDC provides education, prevention, accountability and treatment referrals to participants and their families.

The program's success depends on strong collaboration among the Juvenile Drug Court team, which includes a judge, the prosecutor, school personnel, a court designated worker, a treatment liaison and a case specialist. JDC identifies young people ages 13 to 17 who have current or past drug and/or alcohol charges. They also may have nonrelated drug charges stemming from their substance abuse. The program typically works as follows:

• Local judges refer individuals who enter the juvenile court system to the JDC case specialist for a drug and alcohol assessment.
• The JDC team determines a juvenile's eligibility once the assessment has been completed and discussed. The program does not admit any violent offenders. A juvenile's eligibility is reported to the referring judge who may order those who are eligible to participate in Juvenile Drug Court.
• The JDC case specialist provides administrative support by tracking treatment attendance and random drug screens, reporting on compliance with the program, and handling situations that arise with participants and their families. The case specialists are employed by the Department of Juvenile Services of the Administrative
  Office of the Courts.

Phase 1: Participants enter Juvenile Drug Court during Phase 1, which is the most intensive phase of the program. They are oriented into the program and meet with the JDC team once a week.

Phase 2: Participants move to Phase 2 based on their stability and progress in the program. This means they must demonstrate responsibility and maintain their sobriety. The JDC team meets with the participants twice a week during Phase 2.

Phase 3: This final phase helps participants prepare to live without the daily accountability provided by Juvenile Drug Court. The participants meet with the JDC team  once a month during this phase.

Program requirements taper off as participants complete each phase. Juveniles attend a graduation ceremony after Phase 3 and then begin the after-care component. During after-care the participants no longer meet with the judge, they attend group treatment twice a month and they undergo random drug screens for six months before being released from the program.

Juvenile Drug Court is currently offered in Campbell, Christian, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Henderson, Kenton, Knox, Laurel, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, McCreary, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Warren and Whitley counties.