Treatment Courts

By using a combination of community-based treatment and rigorous monitoring, treatment courts reduce recidivism and the use of incarceration.

We developed New York City’s first drug court, the Brooklyn Treatment Court, and New York’s first mental health court, the Brooklyn Mental Health Court. Today there are thousands of such treatment courts across the country.

Drug courts bring together judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers, and court staff in a collaborative effort to address defendants’ substance use disorders. Due in part to a groundbreaking study by researchers from the Center for Justice Innovation, there is a broad consensus that drug courts reduce substance use and recidivism. In recognition of its work in this domain, the Center received the National Leadership Award from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Mental health courts similarly link participants who would ordinarily be prison-bound to long-term community-based treatment. They rely on thorough mental health assessments, individualized treatment plans, and ongoing judicial monitoring to address both the mental health needs of offenders and the public safety concerns of communities.

Initiatives

Brooklyn Mental Health Court

The Brooklyn Mental Health Court offers community-based treatment in lieu of incarceration to defendants with serious mental health diagnoses.
Brooklyn Treatment Court

The Brooklyn Treatment Court links defendants with substance use disorders to treatment as an alternative to incarceration.
Training and Technical Assistance

We provide training and technical assistance to treatment courts across the United States.
Statewide Strategic Planning for Problem-Solving Courts

We provide thoughtful planning and coordination for problem-solving courts to ensure best practices and the best possible outcomes.

Publications & Digital Media

Publication
Veterans Treatment Court Strategic Planning

In 2019, the Center for Court Innovation received funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to assist five states in the development and implementation of statewide strategic plans for their Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC). The selected states were California, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Each state participated in a needs assessment process that included a document analysis and stakeholder interviews.

Evidence-Based Practices, Rethinking Incarceration, Treatment Courts
Publication
Fact Sheet: Brooklyn Mental Health Court

The first mental health court in New York City, the Brooklyn Mental Health Court seeks to craft meaningful responses to defendants with mental illness. Addressing both treatment needs and public safety concerns, the court links defendants who have serious and persistent mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) or Neurodevelopmental disorders (such as Autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and ADHD) who would ordinarily be jail- or prison-bound to long-term treatment in the community.

Treatment Courts
Publication
Criminal Justice Interventions for Offenders with Mental Illness: Evaluation of Mental Health Courts in Bronx and Brooklyn, New York

by Shelli B. Rossman, Janeen Buck Willison, Kamala Mallik Kane, KiDeuk Kim, Sara Debus-Sherrill, and P. Mitchell Downey

This Urban Institute evaluation of two mental health courts in New York City finds that mental health court participants are significantly less likely to recidivate, as compared to similar offenders with mental illness who experience business-as-usual court processing.

Treatment Courts

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News

Mental Health and Criminal Justice in Brooklyn: In Conversation with Judge Matthew J. D’Emic

For over 20 years, the Brooklyn Mental Health Court has been working to keep people who are suffering from severe mental illnesses out of jail and in treatment. Hear from Judge Matthew J. D'Emic, who has presided over the court since its inception, on the importance of this work.
L.A. criminal court program diverts mentally ill offenders from prosecution

May 26, 2023
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County’s jails house a staggering number of people with mental illnesses, where these conditions go untreated and can even get worse. Under the county’s Rapid Diversion Program, operated in partnership with the Center, more than 1,500 people have been given the chance to receive treatment in their communities instead. So far, 350 people have graduated from the program to see their charges reduced or dropped.
Brooklyn Court Rethinks Incarceration for Individuals With Mental Illnesses

June 2, 2022
NowThis

NowThis, the social media-focused news outlet, created a five-video series on our Brooklyn Mental Health Court, which offers community-based treatment not incarceration for individuals with serious mental health diagnoses. Watch the following videos to learn more:
Episode 1 - D.A. Eric Gonzalez, Episode 2 - Judge Matthew D'Emic, Episode 3 - Dave Kelly and Kerry Rowe, Episode 4 - Ruth O'Sullivan, Episode 5 - Colleen King

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