The Adult Treatment Court (ATC) Program is to prevent overdose and reduce the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances by people involved in the criminal justice system. An ATC is an evidence-based model based on key components and best practices, which are described below. ATCs effectively integrate evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised criminal court settings that have jurisdiction over persons with substance use disorder treatment needs to reduce recidivism, increase access to treatment and recovery support, and prevent overdose.
BJA seeks to provide financial and technical assistance to applicants to plan, implement, and enhance the operations of adult treatment courts. Adult treatment courts effectively integrate evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised criminal court settings that have jurisdiction over persons with substance use disorder treatment needs in order to reduce recidivism, increase access to treatment and recovery support, and prevent overdose.
The purpose of the ATC Program is to prevent overdoses and reduce the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances by high-risk/high-need individuals involved in the criminal justice system. ATCs effectively integrate SUD treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised criminal court settings that have jurisdiction over persons who have an SUD or co-occurring mental health disorder to reduce recidivism, increase access to treatment and recovery support services, and prevent overdose fatalities.
Eligible Adult Treatment Court Types
Driving while intoxicated (DWI)/driving under the influence (DUI) courts, co-occurring courts (participants diagnosed with both substance use and mental health disorders), and tribal healing to wellness courts (THWCs) are eligible for this NOFO.
Category 1: Planning and Implementation
Planning and Implementation grants are available to eligible jurisdictions ready to commit to a 6-month planning phase followed by an implementation and/or launch of an ATC that supportscore capacity and provides critical behavioral health treatment, case management and coordinated judicial supervision, sanctions and incentives, and other supportive services, such as transitional housing, peer recovery services, relapse prevention and employment services, that can reduce recidivism.
Category 2: Enhancement
Enhancement grants are available to eligible jurisdictions with a fully operational ATC. Funding may assist a jurisdiction to scale up the ATC program's capacity; provide access to or enhance treatment capacity or other critical support services; enhance court operations; expand or enhance court services; or improve the quality and/or intensity of services based on needs assessments.
Category 3: Statewide
Statewide grants are available to state applicants for funding to improve, enhance, or broadly support ATC services statewide. Activities include creation of new treatment courts where needed and expanding treatment and services in already established treatment courts; audits of the program policies and procedures; and data collection and analysis to assess program practices and track recidivism. This could include training to address staff turnover and offer operational skills updates and to expand treatment resources in locations with critical substance use needs. These are intended to be one time projects to enhance capacity that can be sustained.
Goal 1: Help individuals in the adult treatment court program with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders to gain access to treatment and recovery support services.
- Objective 1: Increase the number of potential participants screened (i.e., determine eligibility), assessed (i.e., identify criminogenic risk, substance use disorder, or mental health conditions), and referred for treatment courts and services.
- Objective 2: Ensure all grantees administer mandatory and random drug and alcohol testing of program participants to help monitor substance use and treatment progress over the project period.
- Objective 3: Ensure all grantees provide, develop, or increase access to and recruitment and retention in treatment for substance use disorders and offer recovery support services.
Goal 2: Reduce recidivism and improve adult treatment court success rates.
- Objective 1: Increase the number of individuals who successfully complete the treatment court program by expanding evidenced-based treatment programs, incorporating supervision, drug testing, and program sanctions and incentives.
- Objective 2: Reduce the current recidivism rate among program participants actively participating in the grant program.
Goal 3: To ensure access to services for all eligible individuals seeking entry (program eligibility criteria) into the ATC program.
- Objective 1: Collect and track data for individuals who qualify and disqualify for the ATC program.
Past recipients can be found here: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/list?awardee=&city=&combine_awards=Adult%20Treatment%20Court%20&field_award_status_value=All&field_funding_type_value=All&field_served_nationally_value=All&fiscal_year=&state=All&page=1#awards-awards-list-block-gkgdpm1ooymuyukj
In order to advance public safety and help meet its mission, OJP will provide priority consideration to applicants that propose (as applicable within the scope of this funding opportunity) projects designed to advance the goals listed below. Applicants seeking priority consideration should describe in the proposal narrative (and in the budget detail form, if applicable) which of the following goal(s) the project is intended to advance and how it will do so:
In addition to the Agency priorities listed above, priority consideration will be given under this NOFO to applicants in states and units of local government that actively meet the below criteria, to the maximum extent permitted by law:
Applicants seeking this additional priority consideration, should complete the Agency Funding Priorities Inventory – Ending Crime and Disorder (Funding Priority Inventory 3) in JustGrants to indicate which criteria they are actively meeting.
Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee a funding award.