Today's Law As Amended


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SB-910 Treatment court program standards.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 11972 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

11972.
 It (a)   is the intent of the Legislature that drug court programs be  Counties and courts that opt to have treatment court programs shall ensure the programs are  designed and operated in accordance with the document entitled “Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components,” developed by  state and national guidelines incorporating the “Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards” and “Family Treatment Court Best Practice Standards” developed by All Rise (founded as  the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and Drug Court Standards Committee (reprinted 2004).  Professionals), with consideration for the distinct court system within which the program operates.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the  key components of the criminal adult treatment court  programs include:
(a) (1)  Integration by drug treatment  courts of alcohol and other drug  behavioral health  treatment services with justice system case processing.
(b) (2)  Promotion of public safety, while protecting participants’ due process rights, by prosecution and defense counsel using a nonadversarial approach.
(c) (3)  Early identification of eligible participants and  from the appropriate high-risk and high-need target population and  prompt placement in the drug treatment  court program.
(d) (4)  Access provided by drug treatment  courts to a continuum of alcohol, drug, substance use  and other related treatment and rehabilitation services. behavioral health treatment and social services that are evidence based and meet the specific needs of the participant. 
(e) (5)  Frequent alcohol and other drug testing to monitor abstinence.
(f) (6)  A coordinated strategy to govern drug court responses to participants’ compliance. system of incentives, sanctions, and service adjustments to achieve participant success.  
(g) (7)  Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant is essential. treatment court participant at the needed frequency to meet the needs of the participant. 
(h) (8)  Monitoring and evaluation to measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness.
(i) (9)  Continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective drug treatment  court planning, implementation, and operations.
(j) (10)  Forging partnerships among drug treatment  courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations to generate local support and enhance drug court program effectiveness.  treatment court program effectiveness and to coordinate access to needed complementary services outside the program. 
(11) Working to ensure equitable access, services, and outcomes for all sociodemographic and sociocultural groups.
(b) No later than January 1, 2026, the Judicial Council shall revise the standards of judicial administration to reflect state and nationally recognized best practices and guidelines for collaborative programs, including those described in subdivision (a).