In Lackawanna County several multi-disciplinary Treatment Courts exist in an effort to combat substance abuse, alcoholism and mental illness. Presently Lackawanna County has Treatment Courts (Drug Court) for adults and juveniles, DUI Court, Family Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Intercept II Court, Veteran’s Court, Domestic Violence Court, State Intermediate and Restrictive Intermediate Punishment Court and a Re-Entry Court.

The existence and the operation of Treatment Courts vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction throughout Pennsylvania, however most of the counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania either have or are developing a Treatment Court modeled to some extent on the courts in Lackawanna County.

Most counties have programs that range anywhere from 12 months to 18 months in duration and consists of various phases of treatment. Participants in the treatment courts are provided with intensive treatment and other services in order to deal with their alcoholism, drug addiction or mental health issues. The individual treatment court defendant is held accountable by the treatment court judge for meeting their obligations to the court, society, themselves and their families. Treatment court participants are regularly and randomly tested for drug and alcohol use and are required to appear frequently before the judge and the treatment team so that the court can consistently, and constantly review the defendant’s progress through treatment court. The defendant who successfully completes the various phases of treatment is rewarded by avoiding incarceration, achieving a sentence reduction and sometimes a dismissal of charges and an expungement of their criminal record. However, those defendants that do not comply with the strict regulations and guidelines of the treatment court are sanctioned if they do not live up to their obligations.