This classification is viewed as the title for the addiction professional primarily involved in providing direct services to individuals in the criminal justice system. This is an international credential that is recognized throughout the world via reciprocity.

There are certain knowledge areas and skills that are required to provide effective treatment and case management services to adult and juvenile drug involved offenders. Criminal Justice Addictions Professionals must demonstrate the ability to provide effective services including assessment, case planning, case management, linking with other treatment, human services and criminal justice providers, monitoring, counseling and advocacy. In addition, Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professionals must be knowledgeable of the rehabilitative services provided by the treatment and criminal justice systems. Knowledge is required in such diverse areas as pharmacology, treatment theories and modalities, involuntary commitment procedures, criminal case processing, court alternatives, and conditions of probation, to name a few.