City of Jackson

Introduction to the City of Jackson Drug Treatment Court Program

In an effort to address the overwhelming issue of drug-driven crime committed by nonviolent, drug-abusing defendants and reduce the burden of those crimes on the criminal justice system, the City of Jackson Drug Treatment Court (DTC) opened in Jackson City Court on March 7, 2003. As the “war on drugs” escalates and dockets become overloaded with drug-involved offenders, it becomes apparent that incarceration alone does little to break the cycle of illegal drug use and related crime, and that offenders sentenced to incarceration exhibit a high rate of recidivism once released.

The City of Jackson Drug Treatment Court is an intensive rehabilitation and supervision program for non-violent drug-driven misdemeanor defendants. It involves intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation of those offenders who desire to change the circumstances of their lives and break the cycle of chronic drug addiction and dependency.

The City of Jackson Drug Treatment Court is a collaborative effort between a variety of entities. The Drug Treatment Court is operated under the leadership of Jackson City Court Judge Blake Anderson and the DTC staff. Each entity is critical to the success of the Drug Treatment Court program.