The spokane municipal court seeks to create a drug court and expand the community court program to include a substance use track

The City of Spokane was awarded a $982,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards) to create a new Drug Court and expand the existing Community Court program to include a substance use track. The goals of the Drug Court are to provide intensive case management and monitoring for individuals suffering from substance use and co-occurring disorders, with the aim of reducing crime, addressing quality-of-life offenses, and increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system. The funding will support the establishment of the Drug Court, as well as the expansion of the Community Court program, which will utilize a collaborative, problem-solving approach to address factors impacting participants' criminal behavior. Spokane Municipal Court will partner with local treatment agencies to provide a range of services, including substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring disorder treatment, trauma treatment, and medication-assisted treatment. The project will run from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2028.

The goals of drug court will be designed to address the highest level of case management and monitoring available for those suffering from substance use and CO-occurring disorders. The goals will align with the mission to build stronger and safer neighborhoods by providing accountability with help for individuals involved in the criminal justice system to reduce and properly address quality-of-life offenses by utilizing a collaborative, problem-solving approach to crime. Spokane municipal court endeavors to hold participants accountable, address factors impacting participants criminal behavior, provide access to local resources, address victim needs, and increase public confidence in the criminal justice system. Drug court seeks to build on our other therapeutic courts that deal with similar populations. Spokane municipal court will partner with treatment agencies to provide substance use disorder treatment or CO-occurring disorder treatment, trauma treatment, and medication-assisted treatment services. Spokane municipal court treats each participant individually and aims to provide all tools and resources for drug court participants to overcome any barriers.