Treatment Courts in Minnesota

Find treatment courts across Minnesota's 10 judicial districts — drug courts, DWI courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, and more.

Treatment courts are specialized court programs that combine judicial supervision with treatment and support services. Instead of traditional sentencing, participants receive structured treatment, regular court appearances, drug testing, and graduated sanctions and incentives. All treatment court programs in Minnesota are voluntary.

Types of Treatment Courts

Drug Courts focus on non-violent offenders with substance use disorders. Participants receive chemical dependency treatment, counseling, and regular drug testing while remaining in the community under close judicial supervision.

DWI Courts serve repeat DWI offenders or those with high blood alcohol levels. These courts emphasize sobriety monitoring, treatment, and accountability to reduce repeat offenses.

Hybrid Drug/DWI Courts combine elements of both drug and DWI courts, serving participants with overlapping substance use and impaired driving issues.

Veterans Treatment Courts serve veterans and active-duty military members charged with crimes related to service-connected issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or substance use. These courts connect participants with VA services and veteran mentors.

Mental Health Courts serve defendants with serious mental illness. The focus is on connecting participants with mental health treatment, housing, and support services rather than incarceration.

Family Dependency Treatment Courts serve parents in the child protection system whose substance use is a factor in their case. The goal is family reunification through treatment and parenting support.

Juvenile Treatment Courts serve minors with substance use disorders involved in the juvenile justice system.

How Treatment Courts Work

1. Referral — Your defense attorney, the prosecutor, or a probation officer can refer you. The prosecutor must agree, and you must be assessed by a treatment professional.
2. Assessment — A clinical assessment determines whether you are a good fit for the program.
3. Admission — If accepted, you sign a participation agreement. This is voluntary — you can choose traditional court processing instead.
4. Phases — Most programs have 3-4 phases, progressing from intensive supervision to greater independence. Each phase has specific requirements.
5. Court appearances — You appear before the treatment court judge regularly (weekly at first, less often as you progress).
6. Testing and monitoring — Random drug and alcohol testing throughout the program.
7. Sanctions and incentives — Immediate, predictable responses to behavior. Positive progress earns incentives; violations result in graduated sanctions.

Program Length

Most treatment court programs last 12 to 24 months, depending on the type of court and individual progress.

Outcomes Upon Completion

Successful completion of a treatment court program may result in:

• Charges dismissed or reduced
• Early termination of probation
• Eligibility for expungement of the criminal record — see our Expungement Guide
• Avoidance of incarceration

Not all treatment courts offer the same outcomes. Ask the treatment court team what the specific benefits of completion are before you decide to participate.

Find a Treatment Court

Use the filters below to find treatment courts by type or county.