XIII, Sec. 22 Confidentiality

Drug court cases are kept private. Meetings, staff discussions, and court sessions are closed to the public unless the drug court judge decides to allow someone in. This means outsiders generally can't sit in on these proceedings or find out what happens during them.

Any paperwork in a participant's drug court file is also kept private. These files are stored separately from the regular court case file, and they're off limits to public view, except for a few specific documents listed in another rule (Section 23).

Everyone who works on the drug court team, like counselors, court staff, and treatment providers, has to sign an agreement promising to keep this information confidential. This follows federal rules that protect people getting substance abuse treatment. Team members also have to follow other state and federal privacy laws that apply to treatment records.

What this means for someone in drug court: your personal information, treatment details, and case discussions stay private. The public can't access your file or sit in on your hearings without special permission from the judge. This protection exists to encourage honest participation in treatment without fear that private struggles will become public record.