Drug Courts
The adult and juvenile drug courts strive to provide a positive alternative to incarceration that will rehabilitate the individual and break the cycle of drug use or recidivism associated with drug offenses. The Eighth Judicial District Court operates six Drug Courts:
- Adult Criminal Drug Court, for felony cases.
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Prison Re‑Entry Drug Court, for non-violent Department of Prison inmates within two years of probable release.
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Dependency Mothers Drug Court, established to assist women who have child custody issues due to their addiction to methamphetamine or other substances.
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Juvenile Drug Court, for juvenile offenders.
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Dependency Drug Court, for parents petitioned into court for abuse/neglect of their children
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Child Support Drug Court, for non-custodial parents who are petitioned into court for non-payment of their child support obligation.
The Drug Court programs are offered to non-violent offenders who have a serious addiction of substances or to those adults whose addiction has jeopardized their ability to care for their children. Participants are required to attend a one-year outpatient treatment program and must attend regularly scheduled court appearances before the Drug Court judge. Lack of progress or non-compliance in the program results in the application of a series of graduated sanctions including increased judicial supervision, increased frequency of treatment, community service, house arrest, and short-term incarceration.
Feature Stories
Graduation Day arrived for participants in Clark County’s Drug Court Program on May 15, 2009 as part of a national ceremony held by more than 2,000 Drug Court programs across the nation. Among the graduates in Las Vegas, a baby girl named Blessed, who was recognized as the Clark County Court's 500th Drug-Free Baby. Read More
Since March 2008, the Clark County Courts have participated as a model court in a new federal program to assist women who have child custody issues due to their addiction to methamphetamine or other substances. On August 14, 2009, the first graduate of Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court, Marcellina Morcos, was honored by Drug Court Judge Jennifer Elliott for her successful completion of the program. Read More
Clark County Drug Courts in the News
- August 15, 2009 - Las Vegas Review-Journal - Drug Dependency Program: First mother Graduates
- August 14, 2009 - KLAS-TV - Unique Drug Court Sees First Graduates
- May 15, 2009 - Las Vegas Sun - Clark County Drug Court a Catalyst to Change Lives
- February 5, 2009 - Las Vegas Sun - Court seeks to insulate veteran defendants
- December 21, 2008 - Las Vegas Review-Journal - Legal system weighs adjustments: Specialty court a possibility
- November 6, 2008 - Clark County Courts - Judge Jennifer Elliott Selected to Serve as Drug Court Judge
- February 20, 2008 - Las Vegas Review-Journal - JOHN L. SMITH: Judge's innovation engineers state's progressive approach to drug abuse
- May 7, 2005 - NPR - Drug Courts Face Highs and Lows
