What are the Specialty Courts of Arizona?

Arizona Specialty Courts, also called problem-solving courts, are trial courts set up for the primary purpose of treatment for non-violent offenders. The type of programs implemented by specialty courts are constructive in content and geared towards recovery. These programs also allow the involved party to input the program with a sense of dignity and respect.

Specialty courts also serve to handle preliminary aspects of cases before a hearing in court. In this way, the court organizes activities to reduce the workload of the judiciary system.

Veterans Court

Veterans’ court helps veterans who have returned from the military and are battling drug or alcohol addictions, mental breakdown, service-related trauma, and adjoining issues. Some of these adjoining issues include divorce, psychological disorders, suicide, substance abuse, self-destructive behavior, or heightened risk of harming others. When such cases involving this group of persons are filed with the court, the court refers to the Veterans court division.

This division’s vital feature is the initiation and implementation of programs that encourage people and give referrals for medical services, emotional recovery, self-control, and balance. The goal is to restore the quality of life of the individual. The Veterans’ Court is a collaborative effort of the:

• Prosecutor
• Defense counsel
• Judge
• Department of Veteran Affairs
• Community-based support organizations

Although a veteran can apply to have his/her case referred, the judge, defense counsel, and the prosecutor must unanimously approve the referral of such cases to the veteran division. These courts work with veterans that are entering or already involved in the state criminal justice system. Involved veterans must satisfy the court’s eligibility requirements by demonstrating full cooperation with the programs and processes of the court. The following are the addresses of the veterans’ courts located in Arizona:

Maricopa
175 W. Madison St
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Coconino
200 N. San Francisco St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Flagstaff
15 N. Beaver St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Kingman
219 4th St
Kingman, AZ 86401

Lake Havasu City
2001 College Drive
Ste 152
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Mesa
250 E. 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210

Phoenix
300 W. Washington St
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Pima
201 N Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701

Tempe
140 E. 5th St
Tempe, AZ 85281

Tucson
103 E. Alameda Street
Tucson, AZ 85701

Mental Health Court

Arizona Mental Health Courts are a subdivision of Treatment Courts for civil commitment cases. It means cases involving parties diagnosed with a mental health condition. Status is listed within the system to identify and support probation violators with severe mental illness. The Comprehensive Mental Health Court is referred to in such cases.

This court works in partnership with health institutions to provide and oversee treatments given to its participants. This way, civil commitments and arrests as a result of violations are avoided. Overall, the cost of care during incarceration is reduced. The courts engage the participants in health programs that apply incentives and sanctions where the need arises. Some of the components of Mental Health Court proceedings include:

• Court-Ordered Treatment
• Judicial and Annual Reviews
• Petitions for Court-Ordered Evaluation

Individuals can find Mental Health Courts at the following addresses:

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court: Mental Health Court
240 N. Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 724–3171
Electronic mail: cbender@jp.pima.gov

Pima County Superior Court: Mental Health Court
110 W. Congress St
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Phone: (520) 724–3819
Electronic mail: tkowalczyk@sc.pima.gov

Flagstaff
Flagstaff Municipal Court: Mental Health Court
15 N. Beaver
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Phone: (928) 774–1401

Chandler
Chandler Municipal Mental Health Court
200 E. Chicago St
Chandler, Arizona 85225
Phone: (480) 782–4700

Glendale Municipal Court: Mental Health Court
5711 W. Glendale Ave
Glendale, Arizona 85301
Phone: (623) 930–2400

Maricopa Superior Court: Seriously Mentally Ill Specialized Probation Caseload
201 W. Jefferson St
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 506–8575
Electronic mail: crimInfoDesk@mail.maricopa.gov

Phoenix Municipal Court: Pre-screen Competency Program and Mental Health
Phoenix Public Defender Office
300 W. Washington St
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 534–4738
Electronic mail: lynn.gibson@phoenix.gov

Tempe Municipal Court: Mental Health Court
140 East Fifth Street, Ste 200
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (480) 350–8270
Electronic mail: court-inquiries@tempe.gov

Tucson City Court Mental Health Division: Mental Health Court
Address: 103 E Alameda Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 791–4216
Electronic mail: susan.shetter@tucsonaz.gov

Pinal County Mental Health Treatment Court
971 Jason Lopez Cir #500
Florence, AZ 85132
Phone: (520) 866–5454

Drug Courts

Drug courts are specialized courts that provide voluntary programs for persons charged with or convicted of drug offenses and related crimes. These courts give the court system alternatives to the standard criminal adjudication. A Drug Court unit usually comprises a prosecutor, defense counsel representative, judge, probation officer, and a treatment provider. These players work together to create a suitable treatment and counseling plan. The plan includes impetuses and sanctions to curtail the participant’s continued dependency on illegal drugs and possible relapse.

The ten key components of Drug Court laid out by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, with evidence-based principles, form these courts’ guidelines. Although the Superior Court sets requirements and restrictions regarding eligibility, a baseline criterion is that the offender has a drug use activity that has brought them in contact with the state’s enforcement and legal system. Most times, the courts require that the case be void of violence or sexual content. Additionally, eligible persons must not have a previous conviction of sex offense or violence.

Drug Court processes also vary, but they all culminate in guilty offenders entering a drug program. The court grants persons with probationary status access to drug treatment services like education and counseling sessions. Compliance with court rules like drugs and alcohol abstinence is mandatory in this program. Successful probationers stand a good chance of reducing their conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor. In Arizona, there are currently nine adult Drug Courts (Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma). There are also two locations for Early Disposition Court for eligible drug cases:

Maricopa
Central Court Building
201 W. Jefferson St
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Mesa
222 E. Javelina Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210

Initial Appearance Courts

Initial Appearance Courts are for preliminary court proceedings within 24 hours of an arrest. This court commonly hears cases for felony arrests, misdemeanors, and arrests from warrants within and outside the county or state. The operating staff comprises six full-time commissioners, four part-time commissioners, 11 judicial clerks, and one judicial assistant. There is one Initial appearance court located in Maricopa at 4th Avenue Jail, 201 South 4th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.

The Arizona Tax Court

The Tax Court hears all appeal cases of tax disputes from Justice or Municipal Courts to the Superior Court. It also has the power to publish court decisions. The Tax Court rules of procedure form the undercurrents of tax court proceedings, except in the presence of superseding court rules. There is one Tax Court for the state, located as a division of the Superior Court in Maricopa:

Central Court Building
201 W. Jefferson St
Phoenix, AZ 85003