Description

The Adult Drug Treatment Court (ADTC) addresses not only the problems leading to a participant’s entry into the criminal justice system, but also the barriers impeding their treatment and recovery. The ADTC team works collaboratively in developing the therapeutic treatment plan to meet the participant’s needs.   

History

The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s Drug Court Program began in 1992 under Chief Judge F. Dennis Alvarez with the creation of the Drug Pre-Trial Intervention (DPTI) Court. Although the program had no state or local funding at the time, Judge Alvarez’s commitment led to the first court session on June 22, 1992, during which three defendants were admitted into treatment.

The initiative emerged during the early years of the national drug court movement in the United States. Two years later, in 1994, Judge Donald Evans established Florida’s first Post-Adjudication Drug Court, creating a dedicated felony division (Division “Y”) to manage these cases. The program, now primarily funded through the State of Florida’s Problem-Solving Court appropriations, partners with treatment providers such as Ibis Healthcare (formerly DACCO and Cove Behavioral Health) and other agencies, including ACTS, Phoenix House, and Westcare, which offer specialized treatment services.

In 2026, the two drug court divisions, the DPTI Drug Court and the Post-Adjudication Drug Court, were consolidated into a single division, the Adult Drug Treatment Court (Division “W”). Leadership of the program has transitioned through several judges since its inception, beginning with Judge Alvarez and followed by Judge Evans. Judges Jack Espinosa, Jr., Vivian T. Corvo, Denise Pomponio, and Elizabeth Rice have also presided over these problem-solving courts.

Judge Michael J. Scionti currently presides over the Adult Drug Treatment Court (Division “W”) in addition to presiding over Veterans Treatment Court (Division “V”) and Adult Mental Health Treatment Court (Division “M”). Judge Scionti has extensive experience in problem-solving courts helping participants who suffer from mental health and substance use disorders, while ensuring the fair and impartial administration of justice. The history of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s Drug Court Program reflects steady growth, evolving leadership, and real commitment in addressing drug-related offenses through treatment and rehabilitation.