The Nueces County Juvenile Drug Court Program concentrates the efforts of the Juvenile Court. Substance-abuse treatment specialists and probation officers work with at risk juvenile offenders who are actively involved in illicit drug use. This unique collaboration works along with other treatment systems and other providers. It provides offenders with the necessary tools to get into recovery, stay in recovery, and lead a productive, crime-free life.
The program helps the offenders change his or her thinking in order to stop criminal activity rather than focusing on punishment. Participants acquire the wherewithal to rebuild their lives. The Drug Court Program seeks to reach three primary goals:

1. reduction of recidivism,
2. reduction of substance abuse among participants,
3. rehabilitation of participants.

To achieve these goals, the Nueces County Juvenile Drug Court Program is structured to include the following intervention features:

• Incorporation of drug testing into case management system;
• Creation of a cooperative relationship between the offender and the court;
• Identification of offenders who are in need of treatment
• Referring them to the Drug Court Program by order of the Juvenile Court or the Department's Staffing Committee;
• Access to a continuum of drug abuse and mental health treatment and rehabilitation services through the local MHMR Youth Services Programs;
• Monitoring of abstinence through frequent, mandatory drug testing;
• Establishment of a coordinated strategy to govern drug court responses to offenders' compliance;
• Maintenance of judicial interaction with each drug court participant;
• Monitoring and evaluation of program goals and effectiveness;
• Continuing education to promote effective drug court planning, implementation, and operations.