May 2012 Proclaimed Problem-Solving Court Month in the State of Delaware

On May 15, 2012, Chief Justice Myron T. Steele, Secretary Rita Landgraf (Department of Health and Social Services), Commissioner Carl C. Danberg (Department of Correction) as well as members of the judiciary and legislators joined Governor Jack Markell as he proclaimed May 2012 Problem-Solving Court Month in the State of Delaware at a ceremony in Legislative Hall.

The proclamation recognizes twenty-three years of Drug Courts in the United States and eighteen years of Problem-Solving Courts in the State of Delaware. Delaware’s first Problem-Solving Court began operations in 1994 with the creation of the Superior Court Drug Court. Delaware now operates over fifteen problem-solving courts including drug courts, gun court, mental health courts, reentry courts, truancy courts, trauma-informed probation court and veterans’ treatment court.

Problem-Solving Courts are specialized courts that address matters under a court jurisdiction through a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach incorporating collaboration between the court, other governmental entities and community organizations.

The goal of these specialized courts is to reduce recidivism rates and save criminal justice resources by holding defendants accountable for their actions while ensuring that they have access to services to support their efforts to become productive tax-paying citizens. The courts facilitate community-wide partnerships, bringing together public safety and healthcare professionals in the treatment of substance abuse and mental illness and the fight against criminality.

Problem-Solving Court Month will be celebrated with graduations, courts site-visits and presentations throughout the state. Chief Justice Myron T. Steele said, “I am pleased to recognize the important works of the judiciary and others in resolving the complex issues faced by the litigants in these courts.”

Governor Markell’s proclamation encouraged Delaware citizens to recognize the efforts of problem-solving court practitioners and the approximately 5,000 individuals who have successfully graduated from a problem-solving court in Delaware.

For more information on Delaware’s Problem-Solving Courts, please contact Carmen Facciolo at (302) 255-0099 or via e-mail at carmen.facciolo@state.de.us.  

Problem-Solving Court Team

Problem-solving courts seek to improve court outcomes for victims, litigants, and our communities.

These specialized courts have been driven by the desire of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and our other justice partners to respond more effectively to crime problems as well as to the individual problems that often fuel crime such as drug addiction and mental illness.

Problem-solving court initiatives are not new to Superior Court. Our Drug Court began full operation in April 1994 and expanded into the country's first statewide program in 1997.  Our most recent problem-solving court, the Veterans Treatment Court marks another first for Superior Court; it is the first statewide Veterans Court in the nation.

Since the implementation of our statewide Drug Court, Superior Court has expanded our problem-solving courts with the addition of Re-entry Court, Mental Health Court, and its newest problem-solving court, Veterans Treatment Court.

What are Problem-Solving Courts?

With the problem-solving court approach, the court and our justice system partners develop a strategy that compels an offender to complete a treatment program and abstain from repeating the behaviors that brought them into court.

Problem-solving court strategies include extended probation, frequent appearances before the judge, frequent meetings with probation officers, and regular alcohol and other drug testing. The courts require regular and rigorous compliance monitoring with clear consequences for non-compliance. The monitoring and oversight improves the accountability of offenders.

The courts work intensively with offenders in a collaborative team environment that consists of the Court and the other relevant departments and agencies, as needed, which may include the Department of Justice, the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Correction, the Office of Public Defender, the Office of Probation and Parole, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Treatment Access Center, and the Veterans Administration.

Proven Results

Research shows that this approach has proven effective at reducing repeat offenses. Problem-solving courts result in more defendants turning their lives around and becoming healthy, law-abiding citizens. Research also shows that when these strategies are implemented correctly, they improve our public safety and save taxpayer dollars.

Thus, by treating defendants with dignity and respect the problem-solving courts can help reduce recidivism, improve community safety, and enhance confidence in justice.