Pennsylvania sees problem-solving courts as way to improve court system

February 14, 2012[edit]

Pennsylvania: Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court accredited a Drug Court in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Drug courts attempt to reduce recidivism by addressing the root causes of crime.^[1]

Establishing the accreditation program for these courts has been a lengthy process. The Supreme Court formed a committee to create guidelines, and they worked for over a year. Last July, the high court approved the Accreditation Program for Adult Drug and DUI courts. The Pennsylvania court system now has 36 Drug Courts and 14 DUI courts.^[1]

Justice Seamus P. McCaffery has been the Supreme Court liaison to the committee. During the ceremony of the Lancaster Drug Court's accreditation, he said, "Accreditation complements the existing value of Pennsylvania’s problem-solving courts program by boosting performance standards and guidelines at no cost to the Commonwealth’s citizens."^[1]

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