NCJ Number
209031
Date Published
October 2004
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Following an outline of the international regulatory framework for drug treatment in the criminal justice system, this paper discusses the effectiveness of drug treatment and the growing international impact of drug courts.
Abstract
United Nations conventions enacted in 1961, 1971, and 1988 request member states to provide for drug-abusing offenders, as an alternative to or in addition to conviction or punishment, treatment, education, aftercare, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, whether the offenders are in prison or in the community. The research evidence is clear that for those with severe drug dependence, the most effective treatment services are ongoing and able to address the many factors related to relapse. Over the course of three decades, research has consistently shown that such treatment is effective in reducing drug abuse and dependence and that this reduction is linked to significant decreases in crime, health-related problems, and costs. In examining the effectiveness of drug treatment, this paper focuses on the detoxification-stabilization phase of treatment, the rehabilitation-relapse prevention phase of treatment, and the reintegration phase of treatment. The paper concludes with an overview of the features and effectiveness of drug courts, which incorporate court mandates and reviews into an individually tailored drug treatment program that is required by the court and monitored by the judge. Drug courts have spread from the United States, where the concept was first implemented in 1989, to many countries, having been adapted to various legal traditions, cultures, and localities, while underlying objectives, operating principles, and core characteristics of the drug court have been maintained. Evaluations of various drug courts have found higher reductions in recidivism and retention in treatment than in traditional treatment or prison. Appended list of useful Web sites