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Problem Solving Courts
The Circuit Court for Prince George's County Office of Problem Solving Courts Division is currently comprised of five (5) specialty courts.
- Adult Drug Court
- Re-Entry Court
- Veterans Court
- Juvenile Drug Court
- Truancy Reduction Court
Problem Solving Courts represent a major shift from the traditional court model. These specialty courts focus on a collaborative, non-adversarial approach to judicial supervision of eligible offenders. Through the leadership of a presiding judge, each court operates on a team premise to oversee each case through the implementation of a sanction, incentive, and rehabilitative program model. Each team is comprised of the judge, public defender (or private attorney), Assistant State's Attorney, program coordinator, clinically trained case managers, and community supervision manager. Each court has eligibility criteria and specified requirements to successfully complete each program. Eligible offenders are sentenced into Problem Solving Courts voluntarily. A special Participant Agreement, Participant Handbook and Policy and Procedural Manual have been developed for each court and must be reviewed by a participant prior to sentencing.
- Adult Drug Court
- Juvenile Drug Court
- New Direction Youth Diversion Program
- Re-Entry Court
- Truancy Reduction Court
- Veterans Court
The mission of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County Adult Drug Court Program is to employ innovative, judicial supervision with the purpose to decrease drug-related crime and violence, reducing incarceration, providing need-specific treatment and services for substance abusers, and thereby enhancing the quality of life for the individual and the community.
Adult Drug Court Description
The Adult Drug Court Program is a supervised, sanction-based, comprehensive treatment program for non-violent offenders referred to Adult Drug Court by their defense attorney. If deemed eligible, the defendants would enter the program voluntarily. Participants are required to attend regular hearings before the Presiding Judge, maintain a daily curfew, participate in mandatory substance abuse treatment and undergo frequent drug testing all while benefitting from support and guidance from the entire Drug Court team in setting goals to focus on a life of sobriety and become a productive, law-abiding citizen.
Adult Drug Court FAQs
- Special docket designated for Drug Court participants
- The target population is non-violent, drug offenders identified as struggling with substance abuse addiction
- Must be a resident of Prince George's County
- Four phases, sanction, and inventive based program model
The mission of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County Juvenile Drug Court is to reduce substance abuse and delinquent behavior, strengthen family and community ties, improve educational opportunities and enhance the quality of life for juvenile offenders and their families. This will be accomplished by providing a system of strength-based community services that will result in increased public safety and the acquisition of additional life skills that are instrumental to the juveniles' personal growth.
Juvenile Drug Court Description
The Juvenile Drug Court was inaugurated in May 2004 as a post plea/post-adjudication program. The program is a five-phase program in which participants are required to attend substance abuse counseling, submit to random drug screens, attend a school or obtain a general equivalency diploma (GED), obtain employment (dependent on age), and comply with a court-ordered curfew as well as other conditions issued by the court. Services are individualized with substance abuse treatment as the key component. Other forms of therapeutic intervention are provided for a participant's well-being to include mental health, family, grief, anger management, and/or behavioral services.
Juvenile Drug Court FAQs
- The program began in Prince George's County in 2004
- The target population for the Juvenile Drug Court Program consists of individuals who may have alcohol/drug-related problems/dependencies and are between 14-18 years of age
- Must be a resident of Prince George's County
- Five-phase, sanction and incentive-based program model
- The average length of stay is 12 months
The purpose of the Prince George's County Problem Solving Court’s New Direction Youth Diversion Program is to offer youth the opportunity to enter and complete a structured community-based program as an alternative to formal involvement within the Criminal Justice System. The objective of the program is to:
- Provide academic monitoring/assistance via case management supervision,
- Provide services that would support sobriety and abstinence from illegal substances,
- Provide tutoring services,
- Conduct monthly case reviews under non-judicial proceedings,
- Assist youth in comprehending consequences of delinquent behavior through multiple auxiliary services, and
- Assisting youth in appreciating and accepting the consequences of their actions
New Direction Youth Diversion Scope of Services
- Weekly supervision/monitoring at assigned school
- GED Services via Problem Solving Courts Classroom
- Tutoring/Mentoring services
- Participation in weekly or random urinalysis (as deemed appropriate)
- Weekly group/individual substance use treatment sessions (as deemed appropriate)
- Participants will be required to complete a drug education assignment for presentation
- Monthly non-adversarial Judicial review
- Creation and presentation of participant’s Vision Board
New Direction Youth Diversion Program FAQ’s
- The program began in the Circuit Court of Prince George's County in 2021
- 90-day program
- Eligible participants must be a resident of Prince George's County between the age of 12-18 and must have no history of violent offenses.
- Case can be referred through the Department of Juvenile Services as an informal supervision case or as a Pre-Adjudicated condition.
- Referrals can be received from the Department of Juvenile Services, Defense Attorney or Presiding Judge
The mission of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County Re-Entry Court is to facilitate the successful re-entry of offenders into their communities and to promote public safety therein. The Circuit Court further purpose is to reduce recidivism by instituting pre-release evidence-based practices and enhancing transition services through planned risk reduction strategies.
Re-Entry Court Description
The Re-Entry Court Program is voluntary, supervised, sanction and incentive based comprehensive court program. The program is 18-months. The target population of the Re-entry Court Program consists of incarcerated individuals who, through their attorneys, request reconsideration of sentences, and those with substance abuse related offenses or dependency who request a commitment under Section 8-507 of the Maryland Health General Article. Upon admission, participants are committed to court order treatment and enter into a treatment program in the Prince George's County Department of Corrections. Thereafter, they transition to the community with intensive supervision and case management. Participants shall attend regular court hearings before a Presiding Judge, maintain curfew, participate in substance abuse treatment, participate in frequent, random and monitored drug testing and intensive case management provided by the case manager and the Health Department.
Re-Entry Court FAQs
- The program began in Prince George's County in 2013
- Target population for the Re-Entry Court Program consists of incarcerated individuals who may have an alcohol or drug related/dependency problem and/or mental health issues and who have two or more years remaining on their sentence
- Must be a resident of Prince George's County
- Three phase, sanction and incentive based model program
- Average length of stay is 18-months
The mission of the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County Truancy Reduction Court is to improve student attendance, achieve academic improvement and identify the causes of habitual truancy with collaborative efforts between community agencies and the local school districts to enhance the academic success of all students.
Truancy Reduction Court Description
Under the leadership of the Honorable William D. Missouri, a committee was formed to study the feasibility of Truancy Reduction Court in Prince George’s County and accepted the recommendation to institute the Truancy Reduction Court. In 2008, the Truancy Reduction Court Program was implemented. The four phase program requires participants to attend school regularly and comply with any court ordered services or mandates. The rendered services are determined on a case-by-case basis. Mental health counseling, family counseling, grief counseling, anger management, behavioral services and/or other forms of therapeutic interventions are readily available for participants and their families.
Truancy Reduction Court FAQs
- The average program length is from six to nine months (The actual length will fluctuate based on student participation)
- Must be a resident of Prince George’s County and enrolled in Prince George’s County Public School
- Students must have 20 percent unlawful absences doing a quarter, semester, or school year
- Students must be under the age of 16 years and six months
- Students and their families must have been unresponsive to previous interventions
- Students must be screened by a team appointed by the Prince Georges County Public Schools Court Liaison
- Cases not meeting the criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis
In recognition of the plight of veterans that accompany military service, the mission of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County Veterans Court Program is to serve the community and increase public safety. This will be accomplished by integrating and incorporating a coordinated treatment response with justice-involved veterans who have substance abuse and/or mental health issues with the goal of returning productive, law-abiding citizens to the community thereby reducing recidivism.
Veterans Court Description
The Veterans Court Program is a supervised, voluntary, comprehensive, and sanction-based treatment program. The program is 12 months. Veterans entering the judicial system with a misdemeanor or felony level offense with prosecutorial consent, documented substance abuse dependency, and/or mental issues are its focus. Upon acceptance, participants are required to attend regular court hearings before a Presiding Judge, maintain a curfew, participate in substance abuse treatment, and undergo frequent drug testing as well as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) counseling and mental health services, if needed. The judge leads the team's efforts focusing on sobriety, recovery, and accountability as primary goals. The Veterans Court team insures the implementation of these goals for each participant.
Veterans Court FAQs
- Veterans Treatment docket integrates alcohol, drug treatment, and mental health services with justice system case processing.
- Participants must be U.S. military veterans.
- Participants must reside in Prince George's County.
- Individuals must have no active parole/probation cases in other jurisdictions.