NCJ Number
198583
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 37 Issue: 12 & 13 Dated: October/November 2002 Pages: 1441-1467
Editor(s)
Stanley Einstein Ph.D.
Date Published
October 2002
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This special journal issue provides an overview of the growth and development of drug treatment courts in the United States,the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with a primary focus on evaluation research conducted to date concerning critical unresolved issues facing drug treatment courts.
Abstract
This introductory article describes the goal of this special issue as the examination of the research literature concerning the efficacy of "drug treatment courts," the preferred international term, as opposed to the United States term "drug courts." Also, a critical look at drug treatment court's theoretical bases is taken with their expansion to juvenile and family courts. The major defining element to a drug treatment court is court-imposed drug treatment as a part of sentencing. Subtle differences exist internationally in criminal case processing, offender eligibility requirements, treatment models, drug use testing and reporting, and availability of ancillary services. A review of the history of drug treatment courts in the United States is provided, followed by an over view of each of the 10 articles from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, that comprise this special issue. Some topics covered are therapeutic jurisprudence and drug treatment court evaluations. In conclusion, there is a discussion of the evaluation research literature, the efficacy of drug treatment courts, and suggestions for future research. References