Overview of Training and Technical Assistance

Overview:
The FY 2005 Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program provides financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop and implement treatment drug courts that effectively integrate substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting with jurisdiction over nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders. Programs funded by Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program are required by law to target nonviolent offenders and must implement a drug court based on 10 key components. This program supports the following drug court activity:

• Adult drug court implementation and enhancement.

• Statewide enhancement.

Training and Technical Assistance: The National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program (NDCTTAP) supports DCDG by increasing the knowledge and skills of drug court practitioners to plan, implement, and sustain effective drug court programs. It also builds capacity at the state and local levels to provide comprehensive practitioner-based training and technical assistance. The following are the three components of NDCTTAP:

• The goal of the Drug Court Planning Initiative (DCPI) is to provide communities with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to implement a drug court. Particular emphasis is placed on learning new roles, cross training, and developing both a team and a coordinated strategy across justice and treatment systems.

• The goal of the Drug Court Training Initiative (DCTI) is to provide state-of-the-art training on a variety of subjects to operational adult, juvenile, family, and tribal drug courts and state agencies.

• The goal of the Drug Court Technical Assistance Initiative (DCTAI) is to provide technical assistance on a variety of subjects to operational adult, juvenile, family, and tribal drug courts and state agencies.

Legislation: The Drug Court Program was established by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322).

Funding: FY 2005 funding is approximately $39 million.

Eligibility: States (including Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia), state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments may apply for funding.

How/When To Apply: The FY 2005 solicitation was released February 14, 2005, and applications were due March 31. All applications must be submitted via the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System (GMS).

Related Publications:
Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components (PDF)

Strategies for Court Collaboration with Service Communities (PDF)

MethResources.gov

FY 2005 Grant Announcement:
BJA Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (FY 2005 Competitive Grant Announcement)

FY 2005 Resource Guide for Drug Court Applicants

Related Links:
FY 2004 awards
FY 2003 Drug Court Grantees
FY 2002 Drug Court Grantees

Center for Court Innovation
Drug Court Clearinghouse
Family Justice
Justice Management Institute
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
National Center for State Courts
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
National Development and Research Institutes
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Native American Alliance Foundation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities

Contact Information:
Eunice Pierre, Policy Advisor
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202-616-6500
Fax: 202-514-6452
E-mail: Eunice.Pierre@usdoj.gov