The mission of the Champaign County Drug Court is to develop substance-free, productive citizens and break the cycle of criminal recidivism. This is accomplished by assessing and directing individuals with substance abuse addictions into judicially-supervised treatment. A drug court is a specialty court that manages drug abuse cases through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment and sa
nctions/incentives. Incarceration is an appropriate resolution for some defendants, but for many, society is better served by addressing the underlying causes of a defendant's addiction. Since the first drug court was founded in Miami almost 30 years ago, there has been scientific research that clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of drug court programs. Drug courts significantly reduce drug use, recidivism, and are much more cost-effective than traditional criminal justice methods. Addiction to drugs is difficult to overcome in the best of circumstances. Individuals sentenced to Drug Court work harder than they have ever worked in their lives. A defendant's success requires tremendous dedication from the professional staff, the clients, and their families to make the transition from addiction to recovery. The following agencies are represented on the Drug Court Team: State's Attorney, Public Defender, Court Services, Rosecrance, the Judiciary, the Sheriff's Department, Family Services, Champaign Treatment Center, and Safe House.
