NCJ Number
160968
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Clients of the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Drug Court Program, which began full operation in June 1992, were interviewed during July and August 1993 and followed up in the fall of 1994 to determine their attitudes toward the program 1 year after their departure and their arrest histories.
Abstract
The judge, attorneys, and treatment program staff were also interviewed regarding their perspectives on this pretrial diversion program for first-time felony offenders. Data were collected for 10 of the 27 clients in the original sample. Results were generally consistent with the results of the initial evaluation conducted a year earlier. The majority of clients continued to regard their involvement in the drug court has having helped them overcome their problems with alcohol and other drugs. However, the participants' arrest histories indicate that participation in the drug court program does not simply bring an end to individuals' drug use. An analysis of arrests after further time has elapsed will provide a more conclusive answer to questions of the program's effect on participants' involvement in illicit drugs.