TEAM MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

TEAM MEMBERS

Therapeutic Courts rely on a collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach to support Therapeutic Courts are built on a foundation of collaboration, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of professionals who work collectively to support participant recovery, accountability, and long-term success. Each team member contributes unique expertise and plays a vital role in the operation and effectiveness of the court. Their responsibilities are guided by national best practices, ethical standards, and specialized resources tailored to their roles.

Therapeutic Court Team Members May Include:

Judges
Prosecutors
Defense Attorneys
Court Coordinators
Case Managers
Probation Officers / Community Supervision Officers
Law Enforcement
Veterans Justice Outreach
Child Advocate
Parent Advocate
Social Worker
Peer Recovery Support Specialists
Alumni
Treatment Providers

Together, these professionals form a unified team dedicated to fostering recovery, reducing recidivism, and strengthening communities through a compassionate and evidence-based approach to justice.

RESOURCES

Problem-Solving Court Team: Roles, Responsibilities and Accountability. The National Center for State Courts identifies and outlines roles and responsibilities, discusses common team challenges, and explains team development.

JUDGES: Role of the Judge, Drug Court Judicial Benchbook, Judicial Bench Card, All Rise Best Practice Standard III: Roles and Responsibilities of the Judge, Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional and Legal Issues in Adult Drug Courts, Essential Components of Trauma-Informed Judicial Practice (NTCRC), Ethical Considerations for Judges and Attorneys in Drug Court, Ethical Issues in Family Drug Treatment Court (NCJFCJ), Case Law – All Rise Webliography.

PROSECUTORS: The Role of the Prosecutor in Drug Courts, The Role of Prosecutors in Drug Treatment Courts, Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional and Legal Issues in Adult Drug Courts, Drug Court Judicial Benchbook (helpful for attorneys too), Case Law – All Rise webliography.

DEFENSE ATTORNEYS: The Role of Defense Counsel on the Drug Court Team, The Role of Defense Counsel in Drug Courts, Critical Issues for Defense Attorneys in Drug Courts, Reference Guide for Treatment Court Defense Attorneys, Practicum for Treatment Court Defense Attorneys, Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional and Legal Issues in Adult Drug Courts, The Role of Defense Attorneys in Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts, Drug Court Judicial Benchbook (helpful for attorney’s too), Case Law – All Rise webliography.

COURT COORDINATORS: The Treatment Court Coordinator, Roles & Responsibilities: Program Coordinator (NTCRC Podcast), Media Guide for Treatment Courts, Managing the Message During a Crisis, National Treatment Court Month Toolkit and Resources, All Rise Sample Documents, How to Start a Treatment Court Alumni Program.

CASE MANAGERS: Drug Court Case Management: Role, Function and Utility

PROBATION OFFICERS / COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OFFICERS: Role of Probation, Fact Sheet: Probation Practices, Community Supervision Within the Treatment Court Model

LAW ENFORCEMENT: The Role of Law Enforcement in Treatment Courts, Emerging Best Practices in Law Enforcement Deflection and Community Supervision Programs.

PEERS: Incorporating Peer Recovery Support into Treatment Courts (All Rise), Incorporating Peers and Alumni into Court Services (WSTCAA presentation), Sharing Your Story with Dignity and Purpose, Peer Support Roles in Criminal Justice Settings, Value of Peers (SAMSHA), Peer Support Roles in Criminal Justice Settings, Peer Support Resources (Copeland Center), Integrating Peer Supports in Treatment and Recovery Courts: Webinar & Presentation Slides, Peer Recovery Specialists Provide Benefits to Drug Court Despite Role Challenges (p. 23-51), Roles & Responsibilities: Alumni and Peer Recovery Support Specialists (NTCRC Podcast), Washington State Peer Specialists (Health Care Authority),