Monday Map: Two Decades of Drug Courts

It's April 20 and the marijuana reform community is celebrating policy progress around the country and some mainstream recognition. Drug law and mandatory minimum reformers have seen some progress as well, including New York's move away from the Rockefeller Laws. But most courts in most states are still churning out long sentences for mid-level drug offenders and failing to treat drug addiction in as a health problem. Drug courts could change that, and their expansion might offer the greatest promise for criminal justice reform in the U.S. Today's map, above, focuses on the implementation of drug courts across the country.

Drug courts, which focus on drug-related convictions and attempt to divert defendants to treatment programs rather than prison, are entering their third decade this year. They continue to operate mostly below the radar, however. Despite successes in almost every state, drug courts are an afterthought and find their way to the chopping block when times get tough (while expanding these alternatives would actually save money).

Click on the map above for an update on drug courts in your state.