NCJ Number
177393
Date Published
1999
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This publication provides an overview of drug courts, how tribal governments are using the model, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) Tribal Mentor Court Network, and how the network is used.
Abstract
The discussion notes that many American Indian tribes call their programs healing or wellness courts, because they regard the drug court programs more as a healing process. Tribes are also choosing names for their programs that use words from their native languages that summarize or identify the goal for their programs. Healing to wellness courts are a community approach to dealing with a problem that is destroying tribal communities; these programs give the addicted person the structure, supervision, support, and accountability they need to address their addiction successfully. The NADCP Mentor Court Network uses a practitioner-based training approach that recognizes that practitioners learn best from other practitioners. This approach makes it possible for drug court practitioners to observe a drug court and to interact with other drug court practitioners. Descriptions of the three original Tribal Mentor Court sites; map; charts; and appended list of 10 crucial components of drug courts, application form for becoming a Tribal Mentor Court site, and protocols for using the Tribal Mentor Court Network