How do Wisconsin Specialty Courts Work

Wisconsin Specialty Courts are problem-solving courts that use heterodox methods to process crimes and problems in the justice system. Thus, instead of imposing jail time on offenders, the courts use other interventions to help the offender, while also holding offenders accountable for their actions. This approach has been rapidly growing throughout the Wisconsin justice system and has mainly been successful compared to orthodox methods. Civil servants run problem-solving courts in collaboration with other government agencies and institutions, including:

• The National Center for State Courts
• An advisory group of judges
• District court administrators
• County program coordinators
• The Wisconsin Department of Justice
• The Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• The Office of Court Operations
• The office of the Director of State Courts

There is a wide variety of problem-solving courts in Wisconsin, each with its unique way of processing offenders. However, all of the courts share the common goal of addressing the underlying issues of a participant’s criminal behavior. The average length of participation in the program is 12 months. The types of problem-solving courts in Wisconsin include:

• Drug & OWI courts: These are the most common types of problem-solving courts in Wisconsin. The program works to reduce drug use, relapse, and repeat offense among defendants and offenders. Eligible offenders must pass risk and needs assessment before the court can accept them into the program. Generally, participants are first-time offenders with a non-violent history. The program uses judicial interaction, supervision, incentives, and sanctions to ensure that participants display commitment. To graduate, the participant must complete a treatment or rehabilitation program, attend counseling sessions, and build skills that increase the ability to lead drug- and crime-free lives.
• Juvenile courts: Juvenile drug courts apply a similar approach to drug & OWI courts, except the program is tailored to the needs of youth with substance use disorders.
• Mental health courts: This program seeks to address the needs of adult offenders with mental disabilities or illnesses. The judiciary runs the mental health court program in collaboration with local mental health service providers.
• Reentry courts: The program seeks to prevent and address former inmates’ challenges after completing jail time. These include drug addiction, mental illness, unequal access to education, inadequate skills, or job experience, which may result in repeat offenses.
• Domestic violence courts: This program works explicitly with domestic violence victims and ensures that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. The program also seeks to promote information sharing between advocacy groups, government agencies, private institutions, and the judiciary.
• Veterans courts: This program exists to tackle the unique criminal and civil legal problems veterans face, including child support, divorce, unemployment, and foreclosure. At present, the veterans’ court program covers 33 counties in Wisconsin. Depending on the county, eligible participants receive free legal aid but must agree to regular court supervision for a period. During this time, the court assigns mentors to veterans who guide mentees in resolving the challenges faced.

These are the ten (10) principles that guide the operation of drug treatment courts in Wisconsin.

• Integration of drug treatment services with justice/case processing
• Non-confrontational approach to promoting public safety
• Prompt and early enrollment of eligible participants
• Providing access to treatment and rehabilitation services
• Monitoring participants’ sobriety with frequent drug tests
• Sanctions and incentives to ensure participants’ compliance
• Continual judicial interaction with every participant
• Periodic evaluation of the program’s goals, achievement, and effectiveness
• Continual interdisciplinary education of program coordinators and partners
• Strategic partnerships with other courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations in Wisconsin

Problem-solving courts go by different names in Wisconsin. And according to the map provided by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, there is at least one program in each judicial district in Wisconsin. The following is a list of the location and contact information of problem-solving courts in Wisconsin:

Adams County Problem Solving Courts
Circuit Court, P.O. Box 200
Friendship, WI 53934
Phone: (608) 339–4215

Ashland County Criminal Justice Program
201 West Main Street
Ashland, WI 54806
Phone: (715) 682–4792

Brown County Circuit Court
P.O. Box 23600
Green Bay, WI 54305
Phone: (920) 448–4112

Buffalo Problem Solving Courts
Buffalo County Circuit Court
P.O. Box 337
Alma, WI 54610
Phone: (608) 685–6202

Burnett County Drug Court
7410 County Road K, Suite 280
Siren, WI 54872
Phone: (715) 349–8878

Bayfield Field Reduction Treatment Court
117 East 5th Street, P.O. Box 878
Washburn, WI 54891
Phone: 715–373–6194

Barron County Problem Solving Courts
Barron County Government Center
335 East Monroe Avenue
Barron, WI 54812
Phone: (715) 537–6341

Columbia County Problem Solving Courts
400 Dewitt Street
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742–9653

Chippewa County Problem Solving Courts
Chippewa County Dept. of Administration
711 North Bridge Street, Room 218
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Phone: (715) 726–7798

Crawford Problem Solving Courts
220 North Beaumont Road
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Phone: (608) 326–1140

Dane County Problem Solving Courts
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Madison, WI 53701
Phone: (608) 266–3022

Dodge County Problem Solving Program
District Attorney’s Office
210 W. Center Street
Juneau, WI 53039
Phone: (920) 386–3610

Douglas County Problem Solving Program
DOC/Division of Community Corrections
1310 North 14th Street, Suite 260
Superior, WI 54880
Phone: (715) 392–7915

Dunn County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council
3003 US Highway 12 East
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: (715) 231–6686

Eau Claire County Problem Solving Programs
721 Oxford Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 839–5106

Florence County Problem Solving Programs
UW Extension Supervisor
5628 Forestry Drive
Florence, WI 54121
Phone: (715) 528–5172

Grant County Treatment Courts
130 West Maple Street, Room A301
Lancaster, WI 53813
Phone: (608) 723–1738

Iowa County Drug Treatment Court
222 North Iowa Street
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Phone: (608) 935–0393

Jackson County Problem Solving Courts
307 Main Street
Black River Falls, WI 54615
Phone: (715) 284–0287

Jefferson County Problem Solving Courts
311 South Center Avenue, Room 111
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674–8632

Kenosha County Drugs and Veterans Court
912 56th Street
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: (262) 653–2712

La Crosse County Human Services
333 Vine Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 785–6216

Manitowoc County Human Services Department
926 South 8th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Phone: (920) 683–4986

Marathon County Problem Solving Courts
500 Forest Street
Wausau, WI 54403
Phone: (715) 261–1191

Marinette County Treatment Drug Court Program
2500 Hall Avenue
Marinette, WI 54143
Phone: (715) 732–7752

Marquette County Treatment Court
P.O. Box 187
Montello, WI 53949
Phone: (608) 297–3014

Milwaukee County Drug Court
821 West State Street, Room 308
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278–5398

Monroe County Justice Department
112 South Court Street, Room 1008
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone: (608) 269–8897

Oconto County Problem Solving Program
Office of the State Public Defender
101 North Ogden Road, Suite C
Peshtigo, WI 54157
Phone: (715) 582–1193

Outagamie County Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court
401 South Elm Street
Appleton, WI 54911
Phone: (920) 832–5270

Ozaukee-Washington County Public Health Department
121 West Main Street
Madison, WI 53074
Phone: (262) 283–8170

Pepin County Diversion Program
P.O. Box 39
Durand, WI 54610
Phone: (715) 672–8859

Pierce County Drug Court
412 West Kinne Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
Phone: (715) 307–7409

Polk County Treatment Court
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 50
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Phone: (715) 485–8458

Portage County Adult Treatment Court
1462 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: (715) 346–1342

Price County OWI Treatment Program
P.O. Box 0088
104 South Eyder Ave
Phillips, WI 54555
Phone: (715) 339–2158

Racine County Hybrid Drug Treatment Court
717 Taylor Avenue, 3rd Floor
Racine, WI 53403
Phone: (262) 638–6448

Rock County Drug/OWI Treatment Court
51 South Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
Phone: (608) 757–5519

Rusk County Hybrid OWI/Drug Court
311 East Miner Avenue
Ladysmith, WI 54848
Phone: (715) 532–2150

Sauk OWI/Drug Treatment Court
515 Oak Street
Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 355–4880

St. Croix County Drug Court
1752 Dorset Lane
New Richmond, WI 54017
Phone: (715) 386–4723

Taylor County OWI Treatment Court
224 South 2nd Street
Medford, WI 54451
Phone: (715) 748–1435

Trempealeau County Recovery Court
P.O. Box 67
Whitehall, WI 54773
Phone: (715) 538–1837

Vernon County Sobriety Court
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 115
Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone: (608) 637–5364

Walworth County Drug Court
P.O. Box 1001
Elkhorn, WI 53121
Phone: (262) 741–7039

Washburn County Hybrid Drug Court
P.O. Box 250
Shell Lake, WI 54781
Phone: (715) 468–4734

Waukesha County Drug Courts
514 Riverview Avenue, Suite 284
Waukesha, WI 53188
Phone: (262) 548–7925

Waushara County Treatment Court Program
230 West Park Street
Wautoma, WI 54982
Phone: (920) 787–6550

Winnebago County Diversion Program
220 Washington Avenue
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920) 236–4622

Wood County Criminal Justice Task Force
400 Market Street, P.O. Box 8095
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495–8095
Phone: (715) 421–8420