Drug courts and mental health courts: implications for social work.
In recent years communities across the United States have instituted specialized criminal courts for defendants with substance abuse disorders and mental illness. These specialized courts seek to prevent incarceration and facilitate community-based treatment for offenders, while at the same time protecting public safety. The authors describe two types of specialized courts: drug courts and mental health courts. They critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of these courts and conclude with implications for social work education, practice, research, and advocacy.
Tyuse
Sabrina W
SW
School of Social Service, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA. tyuses@slu.edu
Linhorst
Donald M
DM
D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D012947:Social Work; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States