NCJ Number
220270
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 274-293
Date Published
September 2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Data from a hybrid DWI/drug court in a small midwestern urban area were used to determine whether the court was equally effective for offenders charged with methamphetamine-related crime compared with other types of drug offenders, as well as whether the drug court was equally effective for offenders charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) compared with other types of drug-involved offenders.
Abstract
The study found that the drug court was able to reduce reoffending for methamphetamine-involved as well as other types of drug-using offenders. This suggests that the expanded use of drug courts is at least part of the solution to the most recent drug crisis involving methamphetamine abuse. Among DWI offenders, however, drug-court graduation was not related to reduced reoffending compared with non-DWI offenders processed by the hybrid court. The latter finding suggests that newly emerging hybrid DWI/drug courts and their treatment providers should pay attention to the need for drug-specific interventions as well as the need to assess and treat individuals based on their existing level of readiness for treatment. Information was obtained on 87 individuals who had participated in the hybrid drug court between 2001 and 2005. The drug court offenders were compared with a sample of similar offenders (n=124) who were sentenced to prison. The hybrid DWI/drug court accepts both drug offenders and DWI offenders. Substance abuse treatment services were delivered to participants by the local county human services agency under contract with the drug court. 4 tables, 1 figure, 2 notes, and 34 references