Addressing Nonparticipation in Treatment Courts: The 5 As Framework

• By: Michael McGee, MD, DLFAPA WellMind Inc.
• January 19th, 2026
• collaborative care, criminal justice system, individualized treatment, motivation and accountability, participant engagement, structural barriers, therapeutic alliance, treatment courts, treatment dropout, Winter 2026 Issue
• 15    0

Treatment courts face persistent challenges with participants failing to fully engage in treatment or dropping out altogether. Because engagement and retention are critical to public safety and outcomes, treatment courts must understand why nonparticipation occurs and how to respond when it does....