The assessment of the dependent offender in drug treatment courts and its role in the treatment process

In Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs), the diagnosis of addiction is part of a comprehensive assessment of the offender based on a structured four-stage protocol (forensic outline, clinical outline, diagnostic assessment, admission), which involves scientifically based approaches. These concern the processes, methods, interventions, and theoretical background that function as a service delivery framework. At the same time, this type of assessment is a lever for mobilizing treatment. In contrast to the evaluation through formal expertise, used in the Greek criminal system, it is thorough and presents the relationship of addiction to crime. In this way, the dependency assessment used by the IITs is a tool for the penal system to identify the motivation of repeat crime and prevent recidivism. This same tool is also the means for designing the individual treatment plan, the course and development of which is monitored by the Judge. The presentation of the evaluation process in the present study attempts to highlight the need for the revision of the up to date evaluation of dependence on the Greek criminal justice system, especially for those who confess their act and wish to be cured.