For further information you may also access the California Judicial Council, Administrative Office of the Courts online Collaborative Court information.

ADULT DRUG COURT

Adult Drug Court is a collaboration of agencies -- including the Court, the Probation Department, the Health Care Agency, the Public Defender’s office, the District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s Department and other local law enforcement -- which provides an alternative to incarceration for defendants who meet the program's eligibility criteria.

The four-phase Drug Court program consists of intensive supervision by a Drug Court probation officer, individual and group counseling provided by the Health Care Agency’s Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, frequent court appearances, random drug and alcohol testing, and regular team meetings to discuss the participant’s progress.

As participants progress through the phases they are held accountable to program requirements, if they are non compliant they can receive sanctions ranging from an essay, community service, jail sanction, and program termination. Participants are also rewarded with incentives for positive behavior, such as phase advancements, decreased program requirements, drawings for movie tickets, and program graduation.

In order to graduate participants are required to obtain their high school diploma or a GED; to be gainfully employed or attending a training/academic program; to attend regular self-help meetings, and to have maintained consistent attendance at all court hearings, probation and counseling appointments.

 

DUI COURT

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Courts have been established to target second and third-time drunk driving offenders. These voluntary programs provide participants with professional assistance to address substance abuse issues.

In addition to sobriety, the DUI Court program emphasizes rebuilding family ties, maintaining employment and a stable living environment, and pursuing educational goals.

The program is a partnership that includes the Superior Court, the Probation Department, the Health Care Agency, the Public Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, MADD, and local law enforcement agencies.

 

HOMELESS OUTREACH COURT

The Homeless Outreach Court is convened at four community locations. The goal of the Court is to resolve the infractions, low-level misdemeanor offenses, and outstanding warrants of homeless individuals, while providing them with links to necessary supportive services.

The program is a collaborative effort of the Superior Court, the Public Defender, the Public Law Center, the Veterans Administration, the Health Care Agency, the County Department of Housing and Community Services, local law enforcement agencies, and several homeless services providers from the community.

Participation in agency programs and community service are substituted for the traditional court sanctions of fines and custody.

 

MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION

Pursuant to Penal Code 1001.36, the court may order a defendant who meets specific requirements into diversion for unique mental health treatment to support needs of individuals with mental disorders. The court may grant pretrial diversion on misdemeanor and felony offenses. The mental health treatment provider shall provide regular reports to the court, the defense, and the prosecutor on the defendant's progress in treatment. The defendant must plead not guilty to the charge(s) and waive their right to a speedy trial. If the defendant performs satisfactorily in diversion, at the end of the period of diversion, the court shall dismiss the defendant's charges. The diversion period shall not be longer than two years.

For additional information please refer to the attached Procedural Guidelines for Mental Health (MH) Diversion or contact the MH Diversion coordinator at MentalHealthDiversion@occourts.org.

 

OPPORTUNITY COURT

Opportunity Court is a voluntary program for non–violent drug offenders who have been sentenced to and are engaged in the Proposition 36 (P.C. 1210) program but, as a result of their chronic, persistent mental illness are unable to comply with the requirements of the P.C. 1210 program.

The participants must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or major depressive disorder and are supported by readily available psychiatric services.

Opportunity Court program involves frequent court appearances, weekly meetings with the Probation Officer and Health Care Coordinator, regular drug and alcohol testing, residential substance abuse treatment, and attendance at individual and group counseling sessions – all of which are based on the Drug Court model.

Participants are also assisted in accessing medical services, employment counseling, job training and placement, government benefits, and housing.

 

RECOVERY COURT

Funded by a grant obtained by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department through the Mentally Ill Offenders Crime Reduction Act (MIOCR), the Recovery Court is a voluntary program for misdemeanor offenders suffering from chronic and persistent mental illness.

The participants must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or major depressive disorder.

The program provides participants with psychiatric services which may be initiated in the jail. Once the offender is released from custody they are provided with on-going psychiatric services and mental health counseling, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, residential treatment, and assistance in accessing medical services, employment counseling, job training and placement, government benefits, and housing.

The program involves frequent court appearances, regular drug and alcohol testing, meetings with the Recovery Court support team, and direct access to specialized services.

 

VETERANS COURT

Veterans Court offers a therapeutic alternative and support services to US military service personnel who become involved with the criminal justice system, and who are in need of effective mental health treatment to address issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder “PTSD”, Traumatic Brain Injury “TBI” and other serious mental health problems. Veterans Court, which opened in November 2008 at the Community Court building, is a collaborative partnership with the Veterans Administration, which has funded a full-time case manager, and with other State and local veteran service providers.

 

WIT COURT

WIT “Whatever It Takes” Court is a voluntary program for non-violent offenders who have been diagnosed as chronically, persistently mentally ill and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The participants must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or major depressive disorder.

Through services funded by the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) the participants are provided with mental health counseling, psychiatric services, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, residential treatment, safe housing, family counseling and peer mentoring.

Clients are also assisted in accessing medical services, employment counseling, job training and placement, government benefits, and housing.

The program involves frequent court appearances, regular drug and alcohol testing, meetings with the WIT Court support team, and direct access to specialized services.

 

YOUNG ADULT COURT

Young Adult Court is a program in the Orange County Superior Court focusing on young adults who are charged with an eligible felony in Orange County. The goal of this program is to reduce recidivism and promote positive life outcomes. The Young Adult Court is held on alternating Fridays with Judge Maria Hernandez presiding in Department C1 of the Central Justice Center. The Young Adult Court takes referrals of defendants from Orange County that are between the ages of 18 to 25 years old that meet program criteria. Referrals are submitted via email to YAC@occourts.onmicrosoft.com.   The Young Adult Court Coordinator will contact the referring attorney with the next available Young Adult Court meeting date and time.

Young Adult Court Summary
YAC Referral
YAC Pamphlet

 

CROSSOVER YOUTH COURT

The Crossover Youth Court (“CYC”) is a collaborative court that provides services to youth who are dually involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) provides child welfare services to address parental maltreatment. The Orange County Probation Department (Probation) provides rehabilitative services to address a youth’s delinquent behavior. The CYC embodies a strength-based perspective that is essential to improving the lives of youth and their families. The overarching goals of the CYC are to achieve strong and consistent family engagement; align the mission and goals of SSA and Probation; reduce the number of out-of-home placements; reduce the rate of recidivism; increase interagency information sharing; increase the family voice in decision-making; and increase the youth and parent satisfaction with the process. The CYC will provide supportive, responsive, and preventative services for our youth who fall within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems or are at risk for crossover into either system.

 

G.R.A.C.E COURT

G.R.A.C.E. Court (Generating Resources to Abolish Child Exploitation) is a Collaborative Juvenile Program that is designed to address the needs of youth who have been identified as a victim or at risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking. To participate in this program, the youth must be referred by their attorney or social worker.

 

JUVENILE RECOVERY COURT

Juvenile Recovery Court (“JRC”) is a court-based intervention program for substance abusing youth in need of specialized treatment services. It is a collaborative endeavor between the Juvenile Court, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s Office, Health Care Agency and Waymakers, a community resources provider.

The Juvenile Recovery Court program is a combination of substance abuse treatment, sanctions, and incentives designed to rehabilitate drug-involved youth, empower families to support them, and prevent reoffending. Upon successful completion of the program, the charges against the youth will be dismissed and the records sealed.

 

TEEN COURT

Teen Court is a program that addresses the critical needs of at-risk teenagers in the dependency system who are 12 to 17 years old. Teen Court is a partnership that includes representatives from Orange County’s Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Department of Education, and the Probation Department. Participants in Teen Court, many of whom are living in foster care group homes and facing mental health issues, substance abuse issues or academic failure, receive treatment and counseling. Participants are helped to learn the skills they need to deal with issues of trust and safety, build healthy and appropriate relationships, and gain the competencies that are necessary for successful, independent living.

 

TRUANCY COURT

The Truancy Court targets chronically truant youth, with the goal of eliminating their school truancies and absences, reducing their risk of criminal delinquency, and increasing their chances of future academic success. The monitoring and accountability program involves the youth and their parents in a collaboration with the Juvenile Court, the Department of Education, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Social Services Agency, and the Health Care Agency.

 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COURT

Youth and former youth who are transitioning to their communities after serving commitments for a serious or violent felony adjudication in our local juvenile facilities or Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) are eligible for Youth Development Court (“YDC”). While housed at the juvenile facilities or DJJ, these youth and former youth are receiving rehabilitation and treatment services necessary to address the issues that brought them into the juvenile justice system with a goal of successfully transitioning them back into the community with the skills, confidence and resources needed to prevent them from reoffending. This includes life and job skills training, education services, therapeutic services, and mentorships.

The program is a partnership requiring collaboration between the Superior Court, the District Attorney, appointed counsel, the Probation Department, the Health Care Agency, the Department of Education, and relevant community based non-profit organizations.