Critical Issues for Defenders in the Design and Operation of a Drug Court

Brief overview article originally published in Cornerstone, a peer written journal of public defenders and legal aid advocates. This article written by a public defender in the Los Angeles county Appellate branch outlines for other defenders the critical areas of concern for those considering steering their clients towards the alternative route of a drug court rather than more conventional defences and incarceration. Areas of focus include the role of the defender in drug courts, the elements of a drug court treatment program and the various levels of involvement the public defender has during this process with the client.