Collaborative Courts
Siskiyou County has a number of specialty courts to meet the needs of the community. This includes collaborative or “problem-solving” courts, also known as therapeutic justice courts. This type of court is intended to promote accountability through judicial supervision and monitoring.
These collaborative courts (also called problem-solving courts, therapeutic justice courts, judicially led diversion opportunities, and recovery-oriented compliance programs) are characterized by a team approach which brings together resources from the court’s justice partners and community organizations. Collaborative courts are trauma-focused, culturally sensitive, and emphasize early intervention, ongoing supervision, and frequent judicial reviews.
The goals are to address substance abuse and mental health issues, connect participants to available community services, seek alternatives to incarceration and other forms of punishment, and reduce recidivism.
National and state studies have shown that collaborative courts generate substantial savings within the justice system by increasing case processing efficiencies and reducing incarceration costs. Siskiyou County Superior Court is committed to continuing to develop and refine these programs as part of its overall strategy to increase access to justice.
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CARE Court
CARE Court connects a person struggling with untreated mental illness – and often also substance use challenges – with a court-ordered Care Plan for up to 24 months. Each plan is managed by a care team in the community and can include clinically prescribed, individualized interventions with several supportive services, medication, and a housing plan.
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Mental Health Court
Mental health court (MHC) is a group of collaborative agencies – including the Court, the Probation Department, Behavioral Health Agency, the Public Defender’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office that provide specific services and treatment to defendants dealing with mental illness. Mental health courts provide an alternative to the traditional court path by emphasizing a problem-solving model and connecting defendants to a variety of rehabilitative services and support networks.
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Veterans Court
Veterans treatment courts target the root causes of veterans' criminal behavior. The goal of these courts is to resolve criminal cases through treatment and support. In these courts, veterans take part in a program tailored to address their needs. As part of the program, participants meet frequently with a judicial officer, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams.
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Adult Drug Court or Adult Recovery Court
Adult Drug Court is a collaboration of agencies -- including the Court, the Probation Department, Behavioral Health Agency, the Public Defender’s office, the District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s Department and other local law enforcement -- which provides an alternative to incarceration for defendants who meet the program's eligibility criteria.
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Juvenile Drug Court or Juvenile Recovery Court
Juvenile collaborative justice courts work similarly to adult collaborative courts. They apply collaborative justice principals to combine judicial supervision with intensive social and treatment services in lieu of detention, placement, and sometimes probation. These collaborative justice principles include a multidisciplinary, non-adversarial team approach with involvement from justice system representatives, treatment providers, and other support systems in the community.
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Family Dependency Drug Court or Family Recovery Court
The Dependency Drug Court Program is a collaborative program between the Court, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Agency and Child Protective Services (CPS). It is designed to support the parent in addressing their Substance Use Disorder (SUD) needs.