Specialty Courts Department

The Massachusetts Trial Court has established Specialty Courts with the goal of improving the lives and outcomes of people involved with and impacted by the legal system. Specialty Courts focus on addressing and treating underlying issues, including mental health and/or substance use, that bring people into contact with the legal system. Specialty Courts offer alternatives to incarceration that reduce the negative impact of justice involvement and provide pathways to hope and healing.  Specialty Courts operate under the direction of a judge supported by an interdisciplinary team of professionals representing both public safety: probation, prosecutors, defense attorneys and sometimes local police, and public health: masters level clinician, recovery coaches, and treatment representatives, to offer a wholistic range of input and perspectives.

Specialty Courts are not actually separate courts—they are specialized sessions within certain District, Boston Municipal, Juvenile and Probate and Family Courts. They are held at a designated time and presided over by a designated judge who is supported by a specialty court team. They are problem-solving court sessions that provide intensive supervision and required treatment. Specialty court sessions have expanded significantly over the last ten to twenty years in Massachusetts and throughout the country. These courts focus on issues including substance use disorder (Recovery/Drug Courts), mental health issues (Mental Health Courts) and veterans' issues (Veterans Treatment Courts). The model has also been expanded to address the impact of substance use and mental health conditions on parents and families, and Massachusetts has several programs to support families impacted by behavioral health issues. If you have a case in a Massachusetts court and want to learn more about whether a Specialty Court might be an option for you, please speak with either your attorney or your Probation Officer.