Specialty Courts

Diversion Court Overview

Court Judge

Honorable Tammy Riggs
Department 3

Manager
Brooke Howard

Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Hearings
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m

Court Description: In 2000, the Second Judicial District Court established the Diversion Court, as part of the Adult Drug Court. A participant is a defendant diagnosed with a substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder, and/or is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 453. The Court focuses on providing the defendant with outpatient counseling and advancing and stabilizing their education and employment. The goal of Diversion Status is to further reduce the defendant's involvement in the criminal justice system.

A defendant must consent to and enter into a plea agreement with the prosecutor to have the Court suspend the criminal proceedings against them and place the defendant on probation with terms that include attendance and successful completion of a substance or alcohol abuse treatment program. If the defendant is pleading to illegal possession of a controlled substance, they may consent to participate in an educational or drug treatment program.

Accessible Services and Support: The Adult Drug Court with Diversion Status values a holistic approach to help the participants pursue and stop the cycle of substance use and criminal behavior. A multidisciplinary team, consisting of a judge, defense and prosecution counsel, court officers, treatment providers, parole and probation officers, and drug testing staff work with the defendant. The Diversion Status partners with local providers specializing in certain areas of expertise, such as, substance use counseling, case management, drug testing, and vocational and academic programs.

The mission of the Second Judicial District Court's Specialty Courts is to improve quality of life, reduce recidivism, and increase community safety and awareness by engaging the drug and alcohol abusing defendant, or the defendant with a mental health illness, in an intensive, court supervised, treatment program. A multidisciplinary team of a judge, defense and prosecution counsel, court officers, treatment providers, parole and probation officers, and drug testing staff work with the defendant.