The rationale for alternative tracks for case work in drug courts stems from risk and need principles, which emphasize the risk and need variation among offenders this calls for tailoring treatment and supervision features to the criminogenic needs of each offender. The author argues that individuals who are low-risk and/or low need typically do not require the full battery of services specified in the 10 Key Components of drug courts. In determining track placement, the author proposes a risk and need matrix that has four quadrants used to indicate whether each participant may be classified as high-risk and high need (HR/HN), low risk and high need (LR/HN), high-risk and low-need (LR/LN), or low-risk and low-need (LR/LN). The Fact Sheet portrays alternative treatment and supervisory regimens that might be administered within a drug court in serving each of these different types of participants. The standard drug court track that includes all 10 Key Components is used only with the high-risk/high need drug offenders. The recommended track components for each risk/need matrix combination are listed and explained. 2 figures and 36 references
Alternative Tracks in Adult Drug Courts: Matching Your Program to the Needs of Your Clients: Part Two of a Two-Part Series
NCJ Number
242495
Journal
Drug Court Practioner Fact Sheet Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 1-12
Date Published
February 2012
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This "Fact Sheet" presents a conceptual framework and evidence-based practice recommendations for designing alternative tracks within a drug court in order to service different types of adult participants.
Abstract