Learn more about the types and effectiveness of court-ordered treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders
Court-ordered treatmentforsubstance use disordersis often given as a consequence for drug-related offenses. Whilecourt-ordered rehabis sometimes viewed as a “free pass,” it has many requirements and consequences for non-compliance.
What Is Court-Ordered Rehab?
A common misconception about court-ordered treatment is that it differs from voluntarysubstance use disorder treatment. So, exactlywhat is court-ordered rehab? Court-ordered treatment may take many forms and often is conducted in the same setting as voluntary treatment. The specific requirements of treatment vary with each unique court sentence. In some cases, treatment may be given as an alternative to incarceration or as a way to reduce the length of incarceration or probation.
Drug Courts
Drug courtis an alternative to incarceration for individuals convicted of substance-related offenses. To understanddrug courts, two questions must be addressed:
- What is drug court?
- How does drug court work?
Drug courtis a program run by the judicial system aimed atreducing future criminal activitieswhile alleviating the burden and cost of incarcerating non-violence offenders. Drug court is an opportunity to receive treatment and education that requires complete abstinence from substances, including alcohol.
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Drug court includes screening and assessment, routine monitoring including drug testing, and community supervision. Drug court participants are required to attend substance use disorder treatment, though the specific requirements for an individual’s treatment may vary. Participants are monitored by a multidisciplinary team including judges, treatment providers and law enforcement officials. The team meets regularly and addresses what is going well and what is not going well in the participant’s treatment plan. If obligations are not fulfilled by the participant, consequences are given. For example, if a drug test is failed or a treatment appointment is missed, a brief period of incarceration may be required.
Reasons for Court-Ordered Treatment
Court-ordered treatment has risen in popularity as researchers now know that substance use disorders are treatable, medical conditions. While previous offenders were incarcerated and not provided any treatment, many jurisdictions are beginning to implement treatment as a consequence for certain offenses.
Types of Court-Ordered Treatment
Court-ordered drug programsvary greatly. The intensity ranges fromoutpatienteducational programs toresidential programs. The intensity required is dictated in part by the level of offense and a person’s previous legal involvement.
1. Educational Programs
The most basic form of court-ordered treatment is educational programming.Drug education programsare often favored for their ease of accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Adrug offender education programis often the first type of court-ordered treatment that is given for first offenses. It is also used widely in the jail and prison system. However, on their own, educational programs are not likely to be effective for the majority of participants. This type of intervention works best during the early stages of substance use.
2. Group Counseling
Group counselingis another common mandated treatment. Some groups may consist solely of court-mandated participants, while others may include voluntary participants. Group counseling often focuses on connecting individuals to community resources, such as 12-step fellowships, and improving relapse prevention skills.
3. Outpatient Programs
Outpatient programsinclude both group and individual counseling.Court-ordered outpatient treatmentprograms provide a more in-depth level of care. In many cases, anintensive outpatient program (IOP)may be required. IOP consists of attending group counseling multiple days each week for several hours at a time in addition to receiving individual counseling and psychiatric services.
4. Community-Based Programs
Community-based drug rehabilitation programs may be mandated for offenders who have been arrested multiple times, those on house arrest, or during re-entry from long-term incarceration.Community-based programsmay consist of daily services and often are provided within the setting of a halfway house.
5. Residential Programs
Residential treatment programsare the highest intensity of court-ordered treatment.Residential programsremove a person from the community for an average of 28 days to receive full-time treatment, though there are many options that provide shorter or longer-term care.
Effectiveness of Court-Ordered Treatment
Research reveals that theeffectiveness of court-ordered substance abuse treatmentis comparable to voluntary treatment. Somestudieshave even shown that court-ordered participants have higher treatment completion rates than voluntary participants. Receiving treatment has thepotential to increase a person’s desire to stop usingand enhance motivation to change. Thus, court-ordered treatment may be as effective as voluntary treatment.
In some cases, it has been found that court-ordered participants hadbetter treatment outcomesthan their voluntary treatment counterparts. This may be related to the higher rate of attendance and increased treatment retention of court-ordered clients.
Who Pays for Court-Ordered Treatment?
Ultimately, taxpayers fund the brunt of court-ordered treatment services. However, in many cases, offenders pay for the services they receive, at least in part. In situations where a halfway house is mandated, residents almost always are required to pay their own rent.
Substance use has been estimated tocost the governmentmore than $193 billion — $113 billion is associated with the cost of drug-related crime. Treatment, on the other hand, was estimated to cost $14.6 billion.
Can You Refuse Court-Ordered Treatment?
In most cases, court-ordered treatment is an option given to avoid or reduce the length of incarceration. In other cases, it may be required for individuals on probation or parole. When this occurs, the option to forgo treatment is typically available but will result in other, usually harsher, legal consequences.
Unless the specific treatment mandated violates a person’s constitutional rights and no other options are allowed, court-ordered treatment can only be refused in exchange for other legal penalties.Mandated treatmentviolating a person’s constitutional rights is rare but may occur if a person is required to attend a religiously based program.
How to Choose a Court-Ordered Treatment Program
Court-ordered drug treatment programs may be selected by the court system. In many cases, recommendations are provided to offenders. In other cases, a person may be able to select their own treatment provider as long as the provider meets the requirements of their court order. As court-ordered treatment is an opportunity, it is a good idea to try to make the best of the situation and find a program that is most likely to help you. Researching facilities to learn more about theirtreatment philosophyandprogramsmay help narrow your decision.
The Recovery Villageoperates several treatment facilities across the country that treat addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. To learn more about the treatment options available,contact a representativetoday.
