Adult Drug and DUI Courts

Nebraska Adult Drug and DUI Courts utilize a specialized team process that functions within the existing court structure. Adult Drug and DUI Courts are designed to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance use among high-risk and high-need individuals with substance use disorders. The court’s goal is to protect public safety and increase the participant’s likelihood of successful rehabilitation by utilizing validated risk and need assessments, early and individualized behavioral health treatment, frequent and random chemical testing, incentives, sanctions, and other rehabilitative and ancillary services. Intense community supervision and interaction with a judge in non-adversarial court hearings verify compliance with treatment and other court ordered terms.

Family Drug Treatment Courts

Family Drug Treatment Courts are a juvenile or family court docket of which selected abuse, neglect, and dependency cases are identified where parental substance use is a primary factor. Judges, attorneys, child protection services, and treatment personnel unite with the goal of providing safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for children while simultaneously providing parents the necessary support and services to become drug and alcohol abstinent. Family Drug Treatment Courts aid parents in regaining control of their lives and promote long-term stabilized recovery to enhance the possibility of family reunification within mandatory legal timeframes (Wheeler & Siegerist, 2003).

Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts

A Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is a docket within juvenile courts to which selected delinquency cases, and in some instances, status offenders, are referred for handling by a designated judge. The youth referred to this docket are identified as having problems with alcohol and/or other drugs. The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court's judge maintains close oversight of each case through regular status hearings with the parties involved. The judge both leads and works as a member of a team that comprises representatives from treatment, juvenile justice, social and mental health services, school and vocational training programs, law enforcement, probation, the prosecution, and the defense. Over the course of a year or more, the team meets frequently (often weekly), determining how best to address the substance use and related problems of the youth and his or her family that have brought the youth into contact with the justice system (BJA, 2003).

Mental Health Courts

A Mental Health Court is a docket that is focused on those who have been diagnosed with a major mental health disorder and have become involved in the criminal justice system. In Nebraska, there is currently one Mental Health Court in operation as a pilot program, serving individuals who are high-risk and high-need and have a major mental disorder. Mental Health Courts operate under a team approach where a judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, coordinator, community supervision officer, law enforcement, treatment provider(s), and other key team members work together to design an individualized program for each participant. The goal of this court is to reintroduce the participants to treatment, housing, and other ancillary services in order to reduce recidivism and criminal justice involvement. National research has supported Mental Health Courts as effectively reducing recidivism among participants, improving mental health outcomes, and reducing the length of incarceration for participants (Mental Health America, 2009). The first pilot Nebraska Mental Health Court, the Sarpy Wellness Court, entered their first participant in February 2021.

Reentry Courts

Nebraska Reentry Courts are designed for high-risk and high-need individuals who are reentering society from incarceration on a term Post-Release Supervision. Similar to other problem-solving courts, Reentry Courts operate under a team approach where a judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, coordinator, community supervision officer, law enforcement, treatment provider(s), and other key team members work together to design an individualized program for each participant. The court’s goal is to protect public safety and reduce recidivism. Intensive community supervision and interaction with a judge in non-adversarial court hearings verifies compliance with treatment and other court ordered terms.

Veterans Treatment Courts

Nebraska Veterans Treatment Courts are designed to reduce recidivism by fostering a comprehensive and coordinated court response using early intervention, appropriate treatment, intensive supervision, and consistent judicial oversight.  Nebraska Veterans Treatment Courts adhere to the Nebraska Veterans Treatment Courts Best Practice Standards. Veterans Treatment Courts operate under a team approach where a judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, coordinator, community supervision officer, law enforcement, treatment provider(s), Veterans Health Administration, and other key team members work together to design an individualized program for each participant.  Compliance with treatment and court orders is verified by frequent alcohol/drug testing, close community supervision, and judicial interaction in non-adversarial court review hearings.  Veterans Treatment Courts enhance close monitoring of participants using home and field visits.

Veterans Treatment Courts utilize trained volunteer Veteran Mentors to act as role models and provide guidance for veterans. Veteran Mentors help with readjustment issues to assist with reentry into civilian life.

Young Adult Court

Young Adult Court is a judicially supervised program that provides a sentencing alternative, for youthful offenders up to age 25, who have been charged with a felony offense and required to participate in a program of selective assessment and rehabilitative services administered by multidisciplinary agencies.  Key aspects of the Young Adult Court are community supervision, substance use treatment, mental health assistance, education, employment and frequent drug testing. The goal of this 18 to 24-month program is to stabilize participant’s lives by providing tools for success, thus reducing recidivism.