NCJ Number
199692
Date Published
2003
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This report presents an implementation evaluation of the Eighth Judicial Juvenile Drug Court of Colorado from 1999 to 2001 to report on the current status of the Juvenile Drug Court (JDC), the needs and assets of the JDC, and to build capacity of evaluation for the JDC.
Abstract
The purpose of this implementation evaluation of the Eighth Judicial Juvenile Drug Court of Colorado from 1999 to 2001 is to assist the Juvenile Drug Court (JDC) to increase capacity for evaluation, and to develop a system for data compilation that is coordinated, comprehensive, reliable, valid, easy to use, and addresses their goals. The evaluation results are intended to be used by the JDC to: (1) create awareness of the drug court in the community and the State; (2) inform the communities in the Eighth Judicial District and funding agencies of the impact of the JDC; (3) improve the effectiveness of the program; and (4) to provide direction on outcome identification, development, and implementation for the enhancement and continuation phase of the JDC. To design the evaluation of the JDC, the Logic Model was used as the conceptual framework. This model describes what the program is and will do; the sequence of events that links program investments to results. The framework examines the implementation phase of the JDC. The goals of the JDC are to: (1) reduce the number of juveniles who are using alcohol or drugs (AOD); (2) reduce the number of juveniles using AOD and committing delinquent acts; (3) empower parents and actively involve them in drug court; (4) encourage juveniles to actively participate in school; and (5) show how the drug court will facilitate cooperation and interaction between schools, the community, and juvenile agencies. A total of 386 juveniles were presented for consideration of participation in drug court, of which 251 became drug court participants. Of the 251 participants, 167, or 67 percent, graduated successfully from the program and 84, or 33 percent, did not graduate. The results of the Implementation Phase evaluation of the JDC shows that even though the JDC costs the criminal justice system and the general public less than half of the standard operating procedure, it still has a 67 percent success rate. Also, over 100 juveniles in this community have remained out of the criminal justice system and gained the skill and knowledge to lead satisfying and law-abiding lives. Almost all have either remained in school or acquired their degree, and almost all have positively impacted their relationship with their families. Recommendations are discussed on future evaluations. Tables, references, and appendices (A-H)