NCJ Number
199838
Date Published
2002
Length
108 pages
Annotation
This report provides the findings of an evaluation of the first 6 months of operation of the Glasgow Drug Court.
Abstract
In October 2001, Scotland’s first Drug Court was established in the Glasgow Sheriff Court. It targets offenders aged 21 years and older and has the specific objectives of reducing the level of drug-related offending, reducing offenders’ dependence on drugs, and examining the usefulness of such a Drug Court in Scotland. An evaluation of the Drug Courts’ first 6 months of operations was conducted to review its success in meeting these goals. The evaluation process consisted of interviews with 38 professionals working with the Drug Court; interviews with 8 Drug Court clients; collection of information from Drug Court records; and observations of screening group meetings, first calls, pre-court review meetings, and review hearings. Results of the evaluation process are grouped into categories: referral to the Drug Court, sentencing and treatment, reviews and enforcement, and effectiveness of the Drug Court. A chapter is offered on each of these categories. In brief, in terms of referrals to the Drug Court, the evaluators determined that referral to the Drug Court did not commence as expected and was quite variable. The variability of referrals was due to the fact that most referrals were made by individual police officers, and therefore relied upon their individual knowledge of and enthusiasm for the Drug Court. Referral criteria, however, were viewed as realistic and appropriate. As far as sentencing and treatment, the evaluators found that, overall, clients of the Drug Court were willing to accept the requirements of a Drug Court Order. Furthermore, the range of sentencing options available to the Drug Court Sheriff’s was considered to be effective and appropriate. There were concerns that treatment provisions were limited, inflexible, and sometimes inappropriate. In general, there was a desire by both clients and Drug Court personnel for a more comprehensive provision of services and a broader range of treatment options. In terms of reviews and enforcement, both pre-court reviews and review meetings that were held in open court were considered useful and appropriate. Enforcement was thought to be efficient, with a wide range of sanctions open to Drug Court Sheriffs. Finally, the evaluators concluded that the Drug Court program was effective and a general success. References