General Principles

1. Law
2. Tennessee Code
3. Courts
4. Drug Court Treatment Act of 2003
5. General Principles

All drug court treatment programs in this state shall be established and operate according to the following general principles as established by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Drug Court Standards Committee:

1. Drug courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing;
2. Drug courts use a nonadversarial approach, with prosecution and defense counsel promoting public safety while protecting participants' due process rights;
3. Drug courts identify eligible participants early and promptly place them in the drug court treatment program;
4. Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, mental health and other related treatment and rehabilitation services;
5. Drug courts monitor abstinence by frequent alcohol and other drug testing;
6. Drug courts use a coordinated strategy to govern responses to participants' compliance;
7. Drug courts use ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant as an essential component of the program;
8. Drug courts utilize monitoring and evaluation to measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness;
9. Drug courts employ continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective drug court planning, implementation and operations; and
10. Drug courts forge partnerships among the courts, public agencies and community-based organizations to generate local support and enhance drug court effectiveness.

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