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About Idaho’s Treatment Courts

About Idaho’s Treatment Courts

Treatment Courts in Idaho address the underlying conditions that contribute to criminal behavior. They combine supervision, treatment, and judicial accountability to support meaningful and sustainable change. This page provides a detailed explanation of how these courts work, how they developed in Idaho, and the types of Treatment Courts available statewide.

How Treatment Courts Work

Participants engage in structured, intensive programming that may include:

Individual and group counseling
Educational sessions
Community service
Attendance at support groups
Regular testing
Frequent court appearances
Reading and writing assignments
Treatment phases that gradually decrease in intensity

Sanctions or incentives help reinforce progress. Graduation occurs when a participant demonstrates sustained compliance, stability, and progress toward recovery.

The Idaho Drug Court and Mental Health Court Act

The Idaho Legislature enacted the Drug Court and Mental Health Court Act to establish a statewide approach to addressing the connection between substance use, mental illness, and crime.

Full statutory authority appears in Title 19, Chapter 56, Idaho Code.

Detailed Descriptions of Treatment Court Types

This section contains complete descriptions for every program type offered in Idaho. All descriptions below are preserved from the original content.

Felony Drug Court

Adult offenders who have pled guilty to a felony offense and have substance use disorders requiring intensive, evidence-based treatment.

Misdemeanor or DUI Drug Court

Serves adults with misdemeanor offenses related to substance use or impaired driving.

DUI Court

Works with repeat impaired driving offenders and uses evidence-based practices to support behavior change.

Child Protection Drug Court

Supports parents in open child protection cases who have substance use disorders and may be at risk of losing custody.

Juvenile Drug Court

Supports youth with substance use disorders through a family-centered, treatment-oriented approach.

Mental Health Court

Serves adults with severe and persistent mental illness who have pled guilty to a criminal offense.

Juvenile Mental Health Court

Supports youth with serious emotional disturbances through close supervision and coordinated services.

Veterans Treatment Court

Connects veterans with treatment and services to address justice involvement related to substance use or mental health conditions.

Domestic Violence Drug Court

Applies a coordinated, non-adversarial approach to cases involving domestic violence and co-occurring treatment needs.

Young Adult Court (YAC)

Serves emerging adults ages 18 to 25 through structured case management and developmentally aligned programming.