Specialty Courts refer broadly to a variety of civil and criminal courts that have been established to address offenses of a specific nature. Specialty Courts represent a shift in the way courts handle certain offenders. In this approach, the court works closely with prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, social service agencies, and other justice system partners to provide enhanced supervision and promote the completion of applicable treatment/educational programs. These dedicated models help to ensure defendants are appropriately managed by the criminal justice system, and ultimately seek to reduce crime in the community and promote public safety. Clay County District Court houses three specialty court programs: Domestic Violence Court, Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.