Safer, Healthier Communities: King County Recognizes Therapeutic Court Month
The King County Council proclaimed May Therapeutic Court Month at their May 21 meeting. Therapeutic courts provide treatment for substance use disorders and behavioral health disorders underlying legal system involvement while ensuring that participants have the resources and support that they need to be successful.
Johnna Sellers, a graduate of Family Treatment Court and King County Drug Diversion Court, said Family Treatment Court was a more profound experience than she’d anticipated. In addition to nearly five years of sobriety and reuniting with her children, she was able to become a better mother, co-worker, daughter, and friend.
“The programs that were made available to me through Family Treatment Court brought me from ground zero and built me up in a way I never thought possible,” Ms. Sellers said. “Today I have so many more meaningful relationships … than I could’ve done ever on my own, just getting clean.”
Councilmember Barón, who sponsored the proclamation, said that for that past 30 years, therapeutic courts have played a crucial role in advancing public health and public safety in King County. They are designed to help participants face and overcome the underlying behavioral health challenges that contributed to their involvement in the legal system. The programs are proven effective at reducing criminal legal system involvement, improving rates of family reunification and success in treatment, increasing rates of employment and lowering psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department usage.
King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC), opened in 1994 to provide a therapeutic alternative for people whose substance use disorder brought them into the criminal legal system. KCDDC was the 12th therapeutic court in the United States; today there are more than 3,800 nationwide. KDDC now takes primarily felony property crimes driven by addiction, providing an off-ramp from the criminal system.
King County Superior Court’s Family Treatment Court is a “drug court” for families involved in the child welfare system. JTRAC, which stands for Juvenile Therapeutic Recovery and Accountability Court, applies the best practices of therapeutic courts to juvenile matters. For misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, King County District Court operates King County Regional Mental Health Court, King County Veterans’ Court, and community courts in Auburn, Redmond and Shoreline-Kenmore.
Accountability is an integral part of therapeutic courts; participants are generally required to engage in treatment and other supportive services, maintain sobriety, and take prescribed medications. The court and case managers monitor progress and provide resources and incentives to help participants stay on track. Those who do not meet program expectations face consequences related to the legal matter that brought them into the program.
Like Ms. Sellers, many King County therapeutic court graduates become peer specialists or social service professionals working to support others in changing their lives and exiting the legal system. Graduates also give back in countless personal ways such as volunteering in their children’s schools, helping neighbors, and providing encouragement to others seeking recovery.
The ripple effects of participants’ success are felt throughout King County.
“Therapeutic courts create safer, healthier communities that benefit us all,” Councilmember Barón said.
