Collaborative Court
What is a Collaborative Court?
Collaborative justice courts-also known as problem-solving courts- combine judicial supervision with rehabilitation services that are rigorously monitored and focused on recovery to reduce recidivism and improve offender outcomes. The Monterey Superior Court has several different collaborative court programs. You may be able to participate in the following programs if you qualify: DUI/DWI court, Drug Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Veterans Treatment Court. Please consult your attorney to find out if you qualify for any of the following collaborative court programs available in Monterey County.
What is a DUI/DWI Court?
DUI courts are a type of collaborative court that provide individualized treatment and supervision to defendants with repeat DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while impaired) charges. Based off the successful drug court model, DUI courts provide an alternative to a traditional method of incarceration through a system of supervision, accountability, and rehabilitative treatment. The goal of DUI/DWI court is to:
- reduce traffic fatalities and limit impaired driving; and,
- support defendant's return to society by addressing underlying substance use disorders and mental health issues.
What is Drug Treatment Court?
Drug Treatment Court is an evidence-based court program that provide an alternative to traditional criminal justice case adjudication for high risk/high need individuals struggling with substance use disorders. These collaborative justice court models take a team based, less adversarial approach to case processing and combine close judicial oversight and monitoring with intensive supervision and substance abuse treatment services in lieu of incarceration. The duration of the Drug Treatment Court is 12 months (per AB1950). The goals of Drug Treatment Court is to:
- reduce recidivism and substance abuse in substance abusing offenders
- increase the offender's likelihood of successful rehabilitation by addressing substance abuse or other underlying issues that may have contributed to their criminal justice involvement.
Drug Treatment Court Program Information sheet
What is a Mental Health Court?
Mental health courts (MHC) are a form of collaborative court that provides specific services and treatment to defendants dealing with mental illness. Mental health courts provide an alternative to the traditional court system by emphasizing a problem-solving model and connecting defendants to a variety of rehabilitative services and support networks. Each MHC has different participant requirements and available services.
The goal of a mental health court is to:
- support participants successful return to society and reduce recidivism;
- increase public safety; and,
- improve individual's quality of life.
Creating New Choices Information sheet
What is a Veterans Treatment Court?
Veterans treatment court targets the root causes of veterans' criminal behavior. The goal of these courts is to resolve criminal cases through treatment and support. In these courts, veterans take part in a program tailored to address their needs. As part of the program, participants meet frequently with a judicial officer, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams.
Veterans Treatment Court Information sheet
What is Military Diversion?
Military Diversion is a pretrial program for current or former members of any branch of the United States Military charged with misdemeanor crimes. To be eligible, the court must find that these defendants may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental illness as a result of their military service. They work towards successful completion of the program by undergoing and completing counseling and/or treatment and full payment of victim restitution. Participants attend court review hearings to go over their compliance and progress with the Court. This program does not require having an honorable discharge or having combat service to be eligible. Upon successful completion participants' charges are dismissed.
Military Diversion Information sheet
What is Pre-Trial Diversion?
Pretrial Diversion opportunities for case dismissal pursuant to PC §1000 requires you to attend self-help/recovery meetings (or an acceptable alternative), enroll and complete a drug awareness/treatment (self-pay), submit to regular and/or random drug testing (self-pay), and attend court review hearings as ordered. The following information details what you should typically expect. Individual progress varies and will determine your progression in the program.