In 1989, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida was the first in the nation to implement Drug Court, a diversion and treatment program for drug offenders which is overseen by the Court. Its main components are:

• Early identification of appropriate candidates
• Diversion from the ordinary course of prosecution
• Rehabilitation of defendants with intensive supervision by the Drug Court judge and treatment specialists.

The Program offers drug offenders the chance to avoid prosecution, get off drugs and change their lives in a positive direction. Thousands of people have taken this chance in Miami-Dade County's Drug Court and have succeeded.

Today, this effective alternative to prosecution has generated Drug Court activity in over 400 communities nationwide.