Basically what happens is that if someone is a non-violent drug offender and their crime directly or indirectly is caused by that use either because they were caught with drugs on them or because they were caught committing a NON-violent (usually)crime such as burglary fraud, ECT the judge has the option of placing them in a program (if they are willing)and are accepted into the program meaning they are non-violent and the team feels that they are a good match/would benefit they can tell the judge no I would whether be locked up) If they go with the drug court then instead of being locked-up and team that includes the judge, someone from the DA's office, a public defender, probation officer and sometimes others will work to create a plan designed to help them ( usually these are somewhat personalized).
Usually, the courts start out with very regular meetings with the judge/team like weekly ( as opposed to regular probation where usually especially felony probation you only see the judge again if you violate ) As you go through the program (usually a year or even two in lenlth (minimum ) the meetings will drop to maybe twice a month and then monthly and at the end even maybe quarterly ( it depends on the court as each court basically runs itself.
During the program there will be requirements such as drug tests (often) though like the meetings those decrease as the person works through the program, AA/ NA meetings sometimes more than once a week although they to can taper off as time goes on ( mandatory meetings anyway) There will also usually be meetings with a drug counselor one on one same applies with the decrease in meetings. Other requirements include community services, paying fines/fees, employment or schooling and can include other requirements for a particular defendant as the team deems fit.
If the person violates the terms of the program then they can face things like increased supervision, more community service inpatient treatment, house arrest or short term jail sentences in local custody ( think a couple of weeks to a month) (this includes relapses As they progress through the program they may get rewards such as reduced supervision little coins ECT
Now, it is clear that the person does not care they keep relapsing ( often) missing tests, court ECT the judge will kick them out of the program and they will face a regular jail or prison sentence that can last years ( so it is not a free pass the addict has to want it and put in the work, but it is not usually a one bite at the apple thing either as they realize quitting is far from easy particularly if the person has been using for years.
On the other hand if the person completes the program then the benefits can range anywhere from just yay and drug free healthier life to a reduced or even dismissed charge ( depending on the court and/or deal worked out when the program was entered .
Not everyone makes it through the program in fact depending on the court the "failure" rate can be greater than 50%, but those who do graduate have a MUCH MUCH MUCH lower rate of reoffending than those who do not complete such programs ( think like between 50 and 90 percent less likely. Plus even those who "fail" and go to prison will often come out and STILL be less likely to reoffend than those who did not do a drug court at all.
These programs not only result in much lower rates of people reoffending, but are also FAR FAR FAR cheaper per person as in 1,000s less because for one thing the person is out in the community( meaning that the county/state is not paying to feed/house/clothe them plus medical treatment . For another the person is paying fees/ fines and any money owed to the victims ( hard to do that if you are incarcerated) They are also of course adding to the economy.
There are also programs called veterans' court (for veterans whose service led to issues that caused them to break the law ( PTSD drug problems ECT. These programs are usually led by judges who are themselves veterans and are designed basically for veterans/by veterans as there is a bond that frankly civilians would not understand.
There are also mental health courts for non-violent offenders whose crimes are brought on by mental health issues ( Depression, bipolar disorder PTSD ect.
These are known broadly as problem solving courts and have been found very effective and much cheaper than traditional court/incarceration
