In 2007, NACDL established a Problem-Solving Courts Task Force to examine the operations of courts such as drug and mental health courts. NACDL’s Task Force on Problem Solving Courts was charged with conducting a thorough analysis of these courts, specifically focusing upon the ethical implications for the defense bar and the constitutional implications for society at large.To fully understand the ramifications of Problem Solving Courts, the Task Force conducted seven hearings throughout the country in San Francisco, Miami, Tucson, New York, Milwaukee, Austin and the District of Columbia.
The culmination of this project is a comprehensive report and recommendations that for the first time provide the perspective of the nation’s criminal defense bar. On September 29, 2009, the Task Force released America's Problem Solving Courts: The Criminal Costs of Treatment and the Case for Reform. The intent of this report is to seek implementation of the recommendations in jurisdictions throughout the country.
This page includes links to NACDL's Problem-Solving Courts Report and corresponding materials, as well as, relevant news and press coverage and other related scholarship.
Breaking News
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a study December 2011, that reports only 18 out of 32 drug courts showed a decrease in recidivism rates. This finding adds further weight to the overarching theme of NACDL’s Problem-Solving Court Report, that addiction is a health problem and not one that should be handled in the criminal justice system. The GAO study shows that these courts do not reduce the chances an individual will face prison time due to their addiction.
News
NACDL's Problem-Solving Courts Report & Materials
Reports & Papers