Drug Court Funding Sources

Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, have grants for the implementation and enhancement of drug courts. These grants have been available to jurisdictions for adult drug courts only.

Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance are dispersed through the State. To get these funds, you must link with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on the State level to determine application dates and use of funds.

Operation Weed and Seed is given to localities. The funds are funneled through the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Weed is defined as “high crime” areas and Seed is defined as “neighborhoods”. There are 4 components for funding and area 3 which is prevention, intervention and treatment is how drug courts can be included. To get these funds, there must be collaboration between (generally) the district attorney’s office, police department, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Housing Department, neighborhood organizations, etc. Try to assemble these people and talk about your high crime areas and discuss how these funds could help reduce criminal activity for each stakeholder and then call and order an application kit.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several programs which include Elimination grants and Anti-Drug Programs. These funds are used to reduce drug-related crime. A portion of these dollars can be used to pay for treatment. You will need to contact your local Housing and Urban development agency and link with them to develop collaboration.

Drug Free Communities are funneled through the Office of National Drug Control Policy given to community coalitions who are trying to reduce substance abuse. To get access to these funds, you need to link with community coalitions.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Substance Abuse Block Grant dollars are allocated to states for substance abuse and treatment programs. This is an opportunity to develop a link with the State Health Departments and your treatment provider to access these funds.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program are funds from the Office of National Drug Control Policy used to support state and local law enforcement agencies that has implemented programs to fight drug trafficking in high illegal drug areas. To access these funds; you need to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies that are receiving funds or are interested in going after these funds. You can use these funds for technology as well as treatment.

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program dollars are funneled through the state from the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. These dollars can be used for treatment for offenders in residential facilities that provides treatment for offenders.

Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) is used to generate new knowledge about three aspects of substance abuse treatment. These funds can be used to expand or enhance programs/services and for research purposes. Two specific grants are the Comprehensive Community Treatment Program for the Development of New and Useful Knowledge in substance abuse treatment and HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse Treatment and Prevention programs. They provide free training on how to apply for their grants. SAMSHA also has funding through the “Access to Recovery Initiative,” which is an initiative providing people seeking drug and alcohol treatment vouchers to pay for a range of appropriate community-based services.

SAMSHA-High Risk Youth funds are allocated to community programs for delinquent youth which includes those involved in the criminal justice system.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) formula grants are given to states and localities to improve the juvenile justice system. Examples of programs that may qualify for this grant include delinquency prevention and treatment, community and juvenile drug use and dependency prevention.

Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grants are provided to organizations within the Juvenile Justice System. Drug courts are designated as one of the permissible uses for funds.

Discretionary Grants for State Challenge Activities are funds available for those states implementing formula grant programs. Drug courts may be able to access these funds through challenge activities by providing counseling programs, community based juvenile justice programs, alternatives to suspension and expulsion, aftercare services and state agency coordination.

Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs provides funds for local governments that implement programs for at-risk youth. Public and private agencies may form partnerships with local government to provide services. Examples of programs include recreational, mental health services and alcohol and substance abuse prevention services.

Drug Prevention Programs dollars are allocated to public and private non-profit programs to duplicate substance abuse prevention programs. This may be a resource for treatment providers to secure funding to provide services for the children of drug court participants.

Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities State Grant Programs are funded through the Department of Education and provide money to support state educational agencies and governor’s offices for drug and violence programs. The National Grant is similar to the State Grants except that it provides awards to innovative substance abuse and violence prevention programs. To access these funds, the drug court will need to collaborate with the state educational agencies and/or local public and private agencies receiving funds from the governor.

Tribal Youth Programs are federal funds that provide grants to Native American tribes that are working to reduce, control and prevent crime as well as for tribal drug and alcohol prevention programs.