Juvenile Treatment Court

Juvenile Treatment Court (JTC) is a diversion project at Family Court designed to engage non-violent substance abusing juvenile offenders in appropriate treatment under the supervision of the presiding JTC judge and the JTC Review Team. The CEU Evaluator performs behavioral health assessments for these juveniles and refers them to treatment. The work of the Juvenile Treatment Court is aimed at motivating and supporting program participants to complete the program and to graduate. The CEU clinical staff is a part of the JTC Team (JTC), including a dedicated Judge, Public Defender, District Attorney, School District Representative, Juvenile Probation Department, and Family Court Juvenile Services staff. The target population is non-violent substance-abusing juveniles charged with eligible offenses and having eligible prior delinquent histories. Originally piloted in West Philadelphia, the court has since expanded to include all areas of Philadelphia. In the period from 2001 to 2003, the West Philadelphia region generated an average of 622 juvenile drug arrests per year, or 51 arrests per week.