NCJ Number
156162
Date Published
1995
Length
69 pages
Annotation
The U.S. General Accounting Office initiated a preliminary review of drug court programs, used in many State and local jurisdictions to address drug-related crimes.
Abstract
The main purpose of drug courts is to use the authority of the court to reduce crime by changing defendants' drug-using behavior. In return for the possibility of dismissed charges or reduced sentences, offenders are diverted to drug courts, where judges prescribe sanctions and rewards as appropriate in collaboration with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and treatment providers. Thirty-three drug courts which responded to a survey distributed by the GAO reported having accepted over 20,000 defendants, one-third of whom had completed their programs. None of the drug courts accept defendants with a current violent offense charge, and most do not accept those with prior violent convictions. An assessment of six evaluations of five drug courts indicated that these courts may have beneficial effects, but limitations in their methodologies, as well as the relatively short duration of this type of program precluded any firm conclusions. 4 appendixes