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Problem Solving Courts
Problem Solving Courts (PSCs) seek to provide accountability, promote public safety, and reduce recidivism. The PSCs are a collaborative effort between the prosecution, defense, courts, probation, treatment providers, and law enforcement. Each court uses evidence-based treatment and best practices to supervise high risk offenders following the ten key components developed by the National Drug Court Institute. PSCs use an integrated, team-based system that holds offenders accountable and supports their recovery, which is different than standard treatment and supervision done through probation or community corrections.
This non-adversarial approach to crime was first established in Florida in 1989. Current research shows that PSCs are an effective, cost-saving way to reduce substance abuse, manage mental illness, and increase the likelihood that participants will remain in recovery and reintegrate into the community as contributing members (The Verdict on Drug Courts and Other Problem Solving Courts, Chapman Journal of Scientific Justice, Douglas B. Marlowe, February 22, 2011; Colorado Problem Solving Courts Best Practices manual, October 2010).
Each PSC team includes a representative from the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, and law enforcement. It also includes the presiding judge, probation officers, treatment providers, a case manager, and the PSC coordinators. Teams meet weekly before the weekly docket to discuss offenders currently in the program as well as review new applicants.
It takes a minimum of 18 months to complete each of the programs, but a more realistic timeframe is 2+ years.
A Problem Solving Court steering committee meets quarterly to discuss changes and updates in order to maintain fidelity to the program. The District Attorney’s office attends and actively participates on this committee.
The 18th Judicial District first established a mental health court in February 2010. The court was re-named as the Wellness Court (WC) in 2012.
To be eligible for WC, applicants must be charged with a felony and must have an Axis I mental health diagnosis (sex offenders are not eligible). Offenders are screened and evaluated before being presented to the WC team. The WC team reviews each case and offender to determine acceptance. Once accepted, participants in WC must advance through four phases before successfully graduating from the program. Each phase has a number of requirements, allowing offenders more autonomy as they work through the program. As of February 2016, there are 27 WC participants and 23 graduates.
WC has not accepted new applicants in the past six months. After review of the program and in order to maintain fidelity to the PSC model, the PSC coordinators, with the support of the PSC Steering Committee, sought out and found new treatment providers to better serve the WC community. In order to best serve the WC participants, WC has not accepted applications during the transition to the new treatment team. WC expects to begin accepting new applicants in the Spring 2016.
A prosecutor is an active member on the WC team. The prosecutor is responsible for participating in new applicant screenings as well as weekly staffings of current participants. After an offender is accepted by the team, the WC prosecutor extends an appropriate plea offer in conjunction with the prosecutor initially assigned to the case. Once an offender has pled into WC, the WC prosecutor’s role is to work with the WC team to determine appropriate treatment modalities and appropriate incentives and sanctions for participants.
In addition to reviewing applicants and managing the WC docket, the assigned prosecutor attends weekly court on Thursday afternoons and all graduations. The prosecutor also attends training at least annually with the WC team.
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Serving Colorado's 18th Judicial District
Denver District Attorney 370 17th Street Suite 5300 Denver, Colorado 80202
Main phone number: 720-913-9000 Linea en Espanol-Fiscal de Distrito: 720-913-9020 Email address: [email protected]
2014-2015 First Regular Session | 70th General Assembly
Second Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
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Colorado Problem Solving Courts, Colorado Courts
Presented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its September 2017 meeting.
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Are operations backed by best practices in American problem-solving courts?
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Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee. The Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee was established by Chief Justice Mullarkey in March of 2008. This Committee was charged with the tasks of addressing compliance to the key components of problem solving courts, staffing models, funding models, program evaluation, and sustainability.
Problem Solving Courts Problem-solving courts offer a non-traditional approach to integrating treatment provision and criminal legal case processing. These courts rely on close collaboration by multidisciplinary teams, including members from the judicial and treatment communities, to provide both accountability and treatment and services to offenders to reduce substance use and recidivism ...
Problem-Solving Courts. For more information on Problem-Solving Courts; Recovery Court; Veterans Treatment Court; Behavioral Health Court; FIT Court (Family Integrated Treatment Court) Colorado Judicial Branch ADA Accommodations ... Image of Colorado Supreme Court courtroom, ...
*Signifies a program that is classified as a specialty court that is not programmatically supported by the Colorado State Court Administrators Office Problem-Solving Courts unit, nor recognized as an official Problem-Solving Court, although it may follow a similar model utilizing a multi-disciplinary team.
The Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee developed a Colorado Problem Solving Courts Best Practices Manual to guide and inform problem solving court operations across the state. The most recent Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee Order signed in 2022 is available here.
An Introduction to Colorado's Problem-Solving Courts Problem-solving courts use the expertise, resources, and commitment of a multidisciplinary team of professionals to holistically respond to individuals struggling with substance use disorders and mental illness.
Problem Solving Courts Problem Solving Courts (PSCs) seek to provide accountability, promote public safety, and reduce recidivism. The PSCs are a collaborative effort between the prosecution, defense, courts, probation, treatment providers, and law enforcement. Each court uses evidence-based treatment and best practices to supervise high risk offenders following the ten key components ...
Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee The Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee was established by Chief Justice Mullarkey in March of 2008. This Committee was charged with the tasks of addressing compliance to the key components of problem solving courts, staffing models, funding models, program evaluation, and sustainability.
Problem solving courts are most effective at reducing recidivism when applying best practices; and The lessons from problem solving courts can be applied to criminal prosecution more broadly
DIVERT Court (formerly known as Drug Court) —District Court DIVERT Court is a specialized court designed to provide offenders with felony drug possession charges with the opportunity and responsibility to manage their substance abuse problem through probation supervision and close judicial oversight. Potential participants undergo screening by the District Attorney's Office to determine ...
The Training and Education Subcommittee, as part of the Colorado Problem Solving Court Advisory Committee, consists of problem solving court professionals from a variety of disciplines. The subcommittee has developed a curriculum and collection of trainings and resources specifically for team members in problem solving courts that is designed ...
dge on leading an effective Problem Solving Court team. An effective team has a number of 'building blocks' including clear objectives, balanced roles, and effective communication. It must also have good processes for making, implementing and reviewing decisions. An effective team has appropriate leadership creating an atmosphere that allows for experimentation and openness. The subject ...
In June, 2022, the Problem-Solving Court Advisory Committee adopted this resulting document, the Adult Problem-Solving Court Standards, and recommended its approval to the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court as the governing document for all adult problem-solving courts in Colorado. The Adult Problem-Solving Court Standards replaces ...
What Are Colorado Specialty Courts? Colorado problem-solving courts provide a non-traditional approach to integrating treatment provision and criminal justice case processing. These courts work in close alliance with multidisciplinary teams such as members of the judicial treatment communities to offer accountability and treatment and services to offenders in order to reduce substance abuse ...
This memorandum provides a listing of criminal justice reform legislation enacted in Colorado from 2013 through 2023. More specifically, the attached table provides the bill number, title, and description of the criminal justice reform legislation, organized by category. Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff. Date:
Self-Help and Forms. Programs. Public Access. Jury. Home. | El Paso County. | Problem Solving and Specialty Courts. Update 9/4: Notice of Closure of Conejos County Courthouse. Learn More.
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People of color may be underrepresented in Colorado's problem solving courts. As described in NADCP's Standard II, Colorado would benefit from a regular review of problem solving court eligibility criteria, entry process and services to ensure that the PSCs are following appropriate processes for equity and inclusion. 10% 37% 11% 22% 22% ...