The Drug Court Oversight Subcommittee guides the implementation of the Los Angeles Drug Court Program. The subcommittee includes members of the Superior Court, Alcohol and Drug Program Administration, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, and local law enforcement agencies.
The subcommittee provides programmatic and technical assistance, coordinates countywide data collection and program evaluation activities, and facilitates the development of policies and program standards. It is responsible for developing general policy guidelines for the County’s 11 adult drug courts, two juvenile drug courts and three specialized drug courts. The specialized drug courts include:
• Sentenced Offender Drug Court – SODC is an intensive program for convicted, non-violent felony offenders who face state prison commitments due to their criminal records and history of drug addiction. These high-risk offenders participate in both an in-custody and post-release treatment program.
• Co-Occurring Disorders Court – A pilot program launched in 2007, this court focuses on offenders who suffer from both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem. The program can currently accommodate 54 clients and offers intensive mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment and other needed services.
• Women’s Reentry Court – Piloted with grant funding from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, this court targets women parolees who are charged with a new offense in Los Angeles County. Instead of being returned to state prison, participants are enrolled in an intensive six-month residential program followed by six months of out-patient treatment. The program can accommodate 25 women. While the program is not exclusive to women with substance abuse problems or drug offense histories, it is based upon the drug court model.
The Drug Court Oversight Subcommittee holds an annual drug court training conference and submits an annual report to the Board of Supervisors.