Drug Courts were introduced in 1989 by Janet Reno. Four years before she was appointed U.S. attorney general, Reno was a prosecutor in Dade County, Florida. Home of the Miami Dolphins and a long history of drug dealing and abuse. The new Drug Court program offered treatment as an alternative to jail time.

In 1994, Pierce County began operation of the first adult Drug Court in Washington. Three years later, Clallam county opened Washington’s first Drug Court to serve youth. This diversionary treatment program is intended to save money by keeping offenders from re-entering the system and committing new offenses.

By 2000, Washington had fourteen adult Drug Courts, three Juvenile Drug Courts, and four Drug Courts in the planning stage within twelve counties. Some counties have more than one Drug Court and a few Drug Courts are operating in Native American courts.

To ensure that Drug Courts are both reducing addictive criminal behavior and cost effective, the University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute began an evaluation in January of 1999.  The first quantitative reports on King, Pierce, and Spokane courts were produced in January 2000 and the first reports covering Thurston, Skagit, and Kitsap in July 2000. Additional counties and more extensive analyses are planned for 2001. Early evaluation indicates Drug Courts are succeeding, however, the greatest challenge facing Washington Drug Courts is securing adequate operating funds.

In the beginning, Washington Drug Courts start with federal funding. Typically, a federal grant is renewed for three years. Once the federal grant ends the county in which the Drug Court is operating must provide funding. However, there is such a large population in need of treatment that larger counties like King, Spokane, and Tacoma struggle to provide enough funds to adequately operate their Drug Courts.

For continued success, Washington Drug Courts need additional financial support from the Washington State Legislature as well as local counties and continued collaboration with local treatment and service organizations.