NCJ Number
237315
Date Published
September 2005
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This process evaluation of the Guam Adult Drug Court (GADC) compares it with the 10 key components of a drug court program and offers recommendations for improving the GADC.
Abstract
The evaluation concludes that the GADC is performing well, includes several positive and notable practices, and is incorporating features of the 10 key components of a drug court. This includes the integration of alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case processing; the use of a non-adversarial approach while protecting due process rights for participants; the early identification of eligible participants and prompt placement in the program; provision of a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services; and the frequent monitoring of abstinence. Other key program components are a coordinated strategy of drug court responses to participants' compliance with program conditions; ongoing judge's interaction with participants; monitoring and evaluation of the achievement of program goals; continuous interdisciplinary education that promotes drug court planning, implementation, and operations; and the forging of public support for the court by building partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations. The evaluation recommends that the GADC be provided with appropriate facilities where private conversations and private treatment sessions can be conducted. It is also recommended that drug testing procedures be modified so that drug court participants are tested separately from the general offender population. Other recommendations are to emphasize rewards as well as sanctions, to clarify the length of time required for participants to be clean before graduation, and to give priority to the development of a management information system that can track participants for case management and evaluation. 5 references