OJJDP FY 2022 Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. OJJDP envisions a nation where our children are free from crime and violence. If they come into contact with the justice system, the contact should be rare, fair, and beneficial to them. The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (JDTC) Program seeks to build the capacity of states, state and local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to implement new and innovative approaches to enhance existing juvenile drug treatment courts and improve outcomes for youth with substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders, including histories of trauma. When describing substance use, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, uses the term "substance use disorder" for the clinical and functional assessment of an individual’s recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs that causes significant impairment, such as health problems; disabilities; or failure to meet work, school, or home responsibilities. For more information, see https://www.samhsa.gov/disorders/substance-use.