The Criminal Division operates several non-traditional courts that focus on a particular case or violation type and have specific calendars. This helps to reduce delays and process those cases more efficiently. These courts are operated in collaboration with our justice and community partners. All of these Treatment or hybrid Courts are currently housed at the Division 1 location, at the Hennepin County Government Center.

What can Treatment Court do for me?

For more information about each type of Treatment Court, check out the flyers below.

Criminal Mental Health Court
Drug Court
DWI Court
Veterans Court
 

Triage Screening Process

Hennepin County Treatment Courts uses a triage screening process for defendants who are referred to any type of Treatment Court to determine eligibility. Triage screening is conducted by a panel of social workers and probation officers. There is a brochure which gives useful information about Treatment Courts and outlines what to expect during the Triage Process. This Treatment Courts Referral Informational Handout also outlines the process in more detail.

Criminal Mental Health Court is a court that serves defendants charged with a criminal offense who are struggling with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. It is a 12-18 month voluntary program that promotes stability and sobriety through the cooperation and collaboration of the courts, the mental health system, and corrections. This comprehensive care model allows for a rapid response to unmet needs of participants by removing barriers and providing access to mental health services. The program couples judicial reviews with intensive probation supervision, including input from a multi-disciplinary team of professionals led by the judge.

The Fourth Judicial District Court and Hennepin County implemented the Criminal Mental Health Court in 2003 with the mission to promote public safety by addressing the unmet mental health needs of criminal defendants.

Judge Sarah S. West presides over Criminal Mental Health Court every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom C-857 at the Hennepin County Government Center.

For more information contact:
Grace Spearman, Coordinator
(612) 348-6302
Email the Mental Health Court » 

Drug Court is a voluntary, minimum 12-month, post-conviction program, involving the coordinated efforts of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, law enforcement, social services, probation, and treatment specialists to quickly identify and intervene in order to break the cycle of chemical dependency and crime.

The Fourth Judicial District Court and Hennepin County implemented Drug Court in 1997, and revised the program in 2007, with the mission to increase public safety, improve chemical health, and reduce crime by targeting the population of adult, non-violent, chemically dependent, felony property and drug offenders, who are at high risk to reoffend.

The judge is the central figure in a team effort to keep participants engaged in treatment, to reward progress for meeting goals, and to sanction noncompliant behavior. Drug Court participants receive ongoing judicial supervision from the court, are placed under intensive community supervision, undergo frequent drug testing and engage in long-term chemical dependency treatment. In addition, Drug Court assists participants in enhancing life-skills which may include such services as: job training, education, family counseling, etc. Drug Court encourages participants to take control of their own recovery, but it also has clear and definite requirements which if broken are swiftly dealt with by the judge.

Judge Sarah S. West presides over Drug Court. If you are interested in observing Drug Court, hearings take place every Monday at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom #C-853 in the Hennepin Co. Govt. Center.

For more information, please contact:
Laurin Olson, Program Coordinator
(612) 543-4764
Email the Drug Court » 
 

• NADCP Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards
• Drug Courts: Justice that Heals (27 min. video) (co-produced by the MN Judicial Branch and TPT-MN Channel)

DWI Court is a voluntary, minimum 18-month, post-conviction program involving the coordinated efforts of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, law enforcement, social services, probation, treatment specialists, and victim advocates to quickly identify and intervene in order to break the cycle of chemical dependency and drunk driving.

The Fourth Judicial District Court and Hennepin County implemented DWI Court in 2007, with the mission to increase public safety and reduce the number of alcohol related traffic deaths and injuries by effectively partnering our justice system and community resources to focus on the specific issues of repeat DWI offenders.
 

The judge is the central figure in a team effort to keep participants engaged in treatment, to reward progress for meeting goals and to sanction noncompliant behavior. DWI Court participants receive ongoing judicial supervision from the court, are placed under intensive community supervision, undergo frequent drug testing and engage in long-term chemical dependency treatment and attend community support groups. In addition, participants may participate in cognitive-behavioral groups, mental health counseling and psychiatric services. DWI Court encourages participants to take control of their own recovery, but it also has clear and definite requirements which if broken are swiftly responded to by the judge.

Judge Sarah S. West presides over the DWI Court. If you are interested in observing DWI Court, hearings take place every Thursday at 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom C-857 in the Hennepin County Government Center.

For more information, please contact:
Laurin Olson, Program Coordinator
(612) 543-4764
Email the DWI Court » 

• Hennepin County Chemical Dependency Task Force Report 2007

Veterans Court is a court that serves veterans charged with a criminal offense who are struggling with addiction, serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring disorders. It is a 12-18 month coordinated program that promotes sobriety, recovery, and stability involving cooperation and collaboration with the traditional problem solving court partners, with the addition of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care, the Veterans Benefits Administration, County Veterans’ Services, and volunteer veteran mentors. The program couples judicial reviews with intensive probation supervision including input from a multi-disciplinary team of professionals led by the judge.

The Fourth Judicial District Court and Hennepin County implemented Veterans Court in July 2010 with the mission of promoting public safety by assisting and supporting veterans and their families through a coordinated response, through collaboration with the veterans’ service delivery system, community based services, and the criminal justice system.

Judge Sarah S. West presides over Veterans Court every Monday at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom C-857 at the Hennepin County Government Center.

For more information, please contact:
Grace Spearman, Coordinator
(612) 348-6302
Email the Veterans Court »
 

Related Links

• Veterans Court Two Year Review
• Justice for Vets