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Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice
SAN FRANCISCO ADULT DRUG COURT
The San Francisco Adult Drug Court (SFDC) is a pre-adjudication felony diversion program that began operations on March 15, 1995. Its target population includes eligible non-violent offenders charged with drug possession, certain possession for sale and sales charges, felony petty theft with a prior, auto burglary and forgery. In 1998, the SFDC expanded its target population to include probationers with pending motions to revoke their probation. Currently, the SFDC serves approximately 350 clients at any given time.
Drug Court is typically a one-year program, depending on the participant’s circumstances. Instead of jail or prison, participants are diverted into community-based substance abuse treatment programs throughout the city and county. While in Drug Court, the clients’ mental health, medical, literacy, housing, and employment issues are also addressed.
Since its first graduation in March 1996, the SFDC has graduated 570 clients. A study of SFDC graduates in the year 2000 shows that the average number of arrests per client declined by 82% when comparing arrest records two years before entering Drug Court and two years after completing the program. Furthermore, a court-initiated cost analysis shows that the cost of adjudicating cases through Drug Court is approximately $4,000 less than traditional adjudication.
Now part of the consolidated San Francisco Treatment Court, the SFDC operates Monday through Thursday afternoons in Department 18 of the Hall of Justice.
For further information, contact 415-553-9855.
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