Treatment courts are comprised of judges, probation officers, treatment providers, attorneys, coordinators, and others to use a combination of frequent supervision, drug testing, treatment, and status hearings to support Idahoans at risk of recidivism in need of behavioral health services. Through the provision of these services in the community, Idaho avoids costs associated with incarceration while improving the lives of Idaho families.

Idaho has 67 Treatment Courts in 38 counties:

31 Felony Drug Courts
2 Juvenile Mental Health Courts
4 Juvenile Drug Courts
11 Mental Health Courts
3 Misdemeanor Drug / DUI Courts

6 DUI Courts
1 Young Adult Drug Court
1 Domestic Violence Drug Court
2 Child Protection Drug Courts
6 Veterans Treatment Courts

Treatment Courts

Idaho Evaluations

A decade of research indicates that Treatment Courts reduce crime by lowering re-arrest and conviction rates, improving substance-abuse-treatment outcomes, reuniting families and producing measurable cost benefits.

 The Idaho Supreme Court adopted Treatment Court Standards and a comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) process that will be applied to all Idaho Treatment Courts (with the exception of Juvenile Drug Courts that are developing a parallel effort). The Court also updated the designation of these court from the outdated “problem-solving courts” to “treatment courts,” in order to better reflect the work that they do. The name of the Court’s committee tasked with providing recommendations on the administration of treatment courts was also updated to become of the Treatment Court Committee. These changes will help all treatment courts identify and apply best practices, and provide important feedback to judges and team members. The QA effort includes a certification process allowing courts to demonstrate  adherence to best practice standards. It also includes a peer-review component that will pair colleagues from across the state in a structured interview, observation, and analysis process designed to provide feedback to courts and also keep the reviewers informed of options and possibilities that may inform their own efforts to improve. Due to COVID-19 impacts on trial courts throughout Idaho, the full implementation of QA efforts will begin in Spring 2021.