This study examined the effectiveness of three of Michigan's drug courts aimed primarily at drunk driving offenders.
The study's findings indicate that, overall, Michigan's DUI courts are effective in reducing recidivism and drug and alcohol use while using less criminal justice system resources to accomplish their goals. The study asked five primary evaluation questions regarding the effectiveness of Michigan's drug courts aimed at drunk driving offenders (DUI courts) and found that: DUI court participants were re-arrested significantly less often than non-participants sentenced to traditional probation; participants in the DUI courts significantly decreased their percent of positive drug tests over time; the DUI court programs were successful in bringing participants to completion and graduation within the expected time frame, and the courts' retention and completion rates were comparable or even higher than the drug court model in the Nation; several factors were successfully identified as being indicators of program graduation and decreased recidivism; and participants in DUI court spent more time in treatment and had a significantly shorter waiting period between arrest and sentencing. Tables, figure, and references