Achieving Racial and Ethnic Fairness in Drug Courts

In June 2010, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) passed a unanimous resolution directing drug courts to examine whether unfair disparities exist in their programs for racial or ethnic minority participants, and if so, to take reasonable corrective measures to eliminate such disparities.1 The resolution places an affirmative obligation on drug courts to continuously monitor whether minority participants have equal access to the programs, receive substantially equivalent services in the programs, and successfully complete the programs at equivalent rates to non-minorities.2 The resolution further directs drug courts to adopt evidence-based assessment tools and clinical interventions that are scientifically proven to be valid and effective for minority participants, and to instruct staff members to attend up-to-date training events on the provision of culturally sensitive and culturally proficient services.3