NCJ Number
161720
Date Published
1996
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This review of comparative models of treatment delivery in drug courts focuses on the goals and characteristics of treatment-oriented drug courts, operational components of the drug court model, and findings from drug court evaluations.
Abstract
Treatment-oriented drug courts are generally structured to concentrate judicial expertise in drug cases into a single courtroom, link drug-involved defendants to community-based treatment under judicial oversight, address other defendant needs through case management, reduce drug use and associated criminal behavior, and free up judicial and prosecutorial resources for adjudicating nondrug caseloads. These goals are pursued through basic operational components, including the timely identification of defendants in need of drug treatment, specific treatment program requirements that are monitored by a judicial officer, regular status hearings, holding defendants accountable through graduated sanctions and rewards, use of a diversion model that dismisses or reduces sentencing upon successful program completion, and periodic drug testing. A common theme in the grassroots establishment of drug courts has been careful planning and implementation that involves all participating agencies. Drug-court evaluations thus far offer promising indications that drug courts can engage large numbers of felony drug offenders into long-term treatment, but the findings are mixed regarding the impact on recidivism. Drug courts must exist in conjunction with expanded education and prevention programs, as well as the effective treatment of non-criminal justice populations. 25 references