Social Work and Chilean drug treatment courts for juvenile offenders

This chapter examines the role of psychosocial teams working directly with adolescents who are referred by drug treatment courts (DTCs) for rehabilitation. Here, the work of Drug Courts in Chile and the relevance of social work in the process of selection and treatment of juveniles in conflict with the law are discussed. The Chilean DTCs have been implemented since 2004, and social work has been directly involved in this process since the beginning of its implementation. Currently, 33 Drug Courts serving juvenile offenders have been implemented nationwide. The primary role of social workers has focused on identifying cases of youth with problematic drug and/or alcohol use, coordinating care once referred to by the courts, providing support, and conducting follow-up after program completion. Their work has been crucial as they serve as the link between drug treatment professionals and judicial actors, effectively addressing the biopsychosocial needs of the youth within the framework of legal requirements. The experiences of professionals and lessons learned are discussed.