Drug Treatment Court

Who We Are

The Milwaukee County Adult Drug Treatment Court (MCDTC) program is a voluntary program designed to successfully rehabilitate participants with substance use disorders via a community-based alternative to incarceration.

MCDTC diverts participants from the traditional criminal justice system into a specialty court and creates an individualized plan that takes into account the participant’s mental and physical health as well as any relevant environmental factors. Throughout the program, participants are provided with the tools they need to lead productive and law-abiding lives.

Goals

• Reduce criminal recidivism and other court contacts
• Facilitate sobriety and improved behavioral health
• Increase compliance with treatment and other court ordered conditions
• Work to alleviate issues surrounding participants’ substance-related behavioral health issues
• Ensure available services are accessed by participants
• Integrate community based treatment options and services as appropriate
• Improve participants’ family relationships and social support connections
• Improve participants’ economic stability

MCDTC Admission Approval

The District Attorney’s office will review the eligibility standards for the referred individual and determine if the charges and sentencing guidelines are appropriate for participation in the MCDTC.

To be eligible for participation, a prospective Milwaukee County DTC participant must:

• Have significant substance use history or diagnosed as AODA dependent
• Be facing criminal charges in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
• Be reviewed and approved by the MCDTC Team to determine appropriateness for participation
• Agree to appear at all required MCDTC court sessions

Components

The MCDTC has adopted the following key components as its essential tenets:

• MCDTC integrates alcohol, drug treatment and behavioral health services with justice system case management
• Using a non-adversarial approach, prosecution and defense counsel promote public safety while protecting participants’ due process rights
• Eligible participants are identified early and promptly admitted to MCDTC
• MCDTC provides access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, behavioral health and related treatment services
• Sobriety is monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing
• A coordinated strategy involving consistent case management that governs the responses to participants’ compliance
• Ongoing judicial interaction with each participant is essential
• Monitoring and evaluation measures the achievement of program goals and gauges effectiveness
• Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective planning, implementation, and operation
• Forging partnerships generates local support and enhances the DTC’s effectiveness

Testimonials

“Participating in the program has really helped me get my life back together. They’ve given me all the resources I need to turn my life around. I feel like I’m part of a team now and everyone is rooting for me. They treat me like a regular person and want me to succeed.”

- Carl, MCDTC Participant

“The whole team, they give you the support you need…there’s resources, pretty much anything you ask for, if they’re able to do it, they’re going to try to do it to the best of their ability.”

- Anonymous MCDTC Participant