Specialty Courts

Specialty courts, also referred to as problem-solving courts, have specially designed dockets that address one type of criminal offender. In a 2016 document titled Specialized and Problem-Solving Courts, published by the National Institute of Justice, it was noted that these courts focus their attention on offenders whose criminal activity stems directly or indirectly from one or several problems related to drug abuse, mental health, family adjustment, or other criminogenic issues. Typically, the defendants who appear before specialty courts will receive a sanction that addresses the source of the problem (e.g., drug abuse, mental health, family abuse) that resulted in their criminal behavior. The sentencing judge and other criminal justice personnel as well as social service workers play a critical role in the supervision and treatment ...