This book is an exploratory study of a juvenile drug treatment court in the Midwest. Based on observations and interviews the author conducted while serving as the contracted program evaluator, the book investigates how denial, surveillance, coercion, accountability, and definitions of success operate and interact in the Juvenile Drug Court environment and intertwine with institutional needs and authority structures. The book’s findings suggest that some drug court practices may expose participants to potential harms that until now have been largely ignored in studies of drug courts. Drug Court Justice concludes with suggestions for reducing the potential harms of juvenile drug courts.

This book is an exploratory study of a juvenile drug treatment court in the Midwest. Based on observations and interviews the author conducted while serving as the contracted program evaluator, the book investigates how denial, surveillance, coercion, accountability, and definitions of success operate and interact in the Juvenile Drug Court environment and intertwine with institutional needs and authority structures. The book’s findings suggest that some drug court practices may expose participants to potential harms that until now have been largely ignored in studies of drug courts. Drug Court Justice concludes with suggestions for reducing the potential harms of juvenile drug courts.