The mission of Washington Drug Courts is to stop criminal activity related to the abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. Instead of imprisonment, drug court participants must adhere to a strict program of treatment, counseling, and urine tests. The court also sets educational and work requirements.

Twelve counties currently operate fourteen drug courts with four more in the planning stage. Each Washington drug court is uniquely designed to meet the specific needs of an individual community. However, the requirements for participant eligibility and graduation are relatively similar.

One fundamental prerequisite is that Drug Court participation is voluntary. Participants sign a contract that addresses their specific needs and if they successfully graduate the court may dismiss the original charge, reduce or set aside a sentence, offer some lesser penalty, or offer a combination of these. On the other hand, if a participant drops out of the program or fails to complete their individual plan they waive their right to a trial and serve a predetermined criminal sentence. 

Most Washington counties only have an adult program. However, in recent years Juvenile Drug Courts have been gaining momentum. In 1999, King County opened a juvenile court, which is Washington’s third, with smaller Juvenile Drug Courts already operating in Clallam and Kitsap counties.

A study of Pierce County’s drug court shows it costs a third of traditional programs for drug offenders. (The Olympian, 9/26/97)

“The savings come if they don’t return to the criminal system.” Judge Richard Thorp, Snohomish County.

“If we spend money today to stop juvenile crime… to give these kids support (and) send them back to school, we won’t have to pay for them in the adult system.” Snohomish County Judge, Joseph Thibodeau.