Overview

The mission of the Juvenile Drug Court (JDC) program is to rehabilitate youth with substance abuse issues, through treatment, support and supervision.

JDC strives to strengthen family relationships, promote positive community ties, and inspire a commitment to education. The program seeks to promote public safety, encourage positive youth development and provide a continuum of quality treatment services.

The JDC program is a strength-based program that aims to reduce drug use among participants through an intensive outpatient treatment program coupled with frequent judicial oversight and intensive supervision. The program is self-paced and can be completed in as little as six and a half months.

The JDC Program operates under the guidance of the following Juvenile Drug Court 16 Key Strategies in Practice.

1. Collaborative Planning
2. Teamwork
3. Clearly Defined Target Population and Eligibility Criteria
4. Judicial Involvement and Supervision
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
6. Community Partnerships
7. Comprehensive Treatment Planning
8. Developmentally Appropriate Services
9. Gender Appropriate Services
10. Cultural Competence
11. Focus on Strengths
12. Family Engagement
13. Educational Linkages
14. Drug Testing
15. Goal Oriented Incentives and Sanctions
16. Confidentiality

Juvenile Drug Court FAQs

Eligibility Checklist

The following criteria determine a child’s eligibility for the JDC Program.

• Child is between the ages of 14 and 17 years old
• Child has several referrals to the juvenile probation office that are related to drug or alcohol use
• Child is currently on probation or will be placed on probation for at least a year
• Child has used drugs or alcohol in the past 90 days or is currently in an inpatient treatment facility
• Child has tried other substance abuse treatment in the past but continues to struggle with sobriety
• Child’s substance abuse is affecting the child’s work, school or home life
• Child’s substance abuse is putting the child’s life in danger (ie: drunk driving or running away)
• Child’s substance abuse is negatively affecting the child’s decision-making
• Child continues to use drugs or alcohol despite sanctions or negative consequences

How to Apply

The JDC Program accepts referrals from the following sources:

• Child’s Probation Officer
• Child’s Attorney
• District Court Judge
• Children’s Court Attorney

Services Provided

• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Individual Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Moral Reconation Therapy
• Relapse Prevention Group
• Motivational Interviewing
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Parent Support Group
• No-cost treatment that does not require Medicaid coverage

Support Services

• Community Support Workers
• Juvenile Community Corrections
• Regular drug testing
• Parenting Classes
• GED classes
• Community Support Groups
• Mentor Dinners
• Experiential and adventure-based programming

Juvenile Drug Court Magna Carta

Whereas, we, the Juvenile Drug Court team, a group of individuals working in the field of juvenile justice, while serving and protecting the community, youth and families of Bernalillo County, Second Judicial District, State of New Mexico, hereby promise we will conduct ourselves in the following manner:

We will show compassion to our youth and their families and work hard to provide them with the help they need. We will be polite to our youth and their families and always treat them with kindness, respect and dignity. We will recognize that families are the most knowledgeable experts in their children’s lives and therefore a powerful force in their child’s success. We proudly pledge that each family’s values, culture, and beliefs will be incorporated into our delivery of services. We will take the time to listen to the youth and their families. We will ensure that families are involved in decision-making processes. We pledge to hold youth accountable and promise our decisions will be fair and just. We will be honest and gladly explain our decisions with timely, accurate and complete information. We will make sure that youth and their families feel welcome and we will work hard to ensure the justice process is understandable. We will not be judgmental, berate, belittle or slander the youth or their families. We will not curse, swear or scream at youth or their families. We pledge to support families before and after challenges arise. We will promote prosperity and work hard to ensure that youth are prepared for a successful future.

Address

John E. Brown Juvenile Justice Center
5100 Second St. NW
Albuquerque, NM  87107

Contact

Office Hours
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 505-841-7456