NCJ Number
238573
Date Published
December 2011
Length
93 pages
Annotation
This report describes the methodology and presents the findings of a process, outcome, and cost evaluation for the Benton County (Oregon) Adult Drug Treatment Court (BCADTC).
Abstract
The process assessment examined the extent to which the program was implementing the 10 key components of drug courts. The Benton County Adult Drug Treatment Program has been implemented within the guidelines of the 10 key components and has instituted many of the research-based best practices of drug treatment courts. The judge is firm but fair with participants in the courtroom. The program has also established partnerships across community agencies. The outcome evaluation determined whether the program has improved participant outcomes. The outcomes assessed included graduation rates and what participant characteristics predicted whether or not they successfully completed the program, as well as whether participants reduced their drug use and whether they were re-arrested less often than similar individuals who did not participate in drug treatment court. The evaluation found that BCADTC participants were re-arrested significantly less often than the comparison group each year for 5 years from drug treatment court entry. In addition, when examined by charge type, BCADTC participants had significantly fewer re-arrests for each type of charge, including drug, property, person, and felony charges. The graduation rate for the BCADTC program was 63 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 50 percent. Overall, the drug treatment court program has achieved its main goals of reducing drug use and recidivism among its participants and increasing public safety. The cost evaluation showed that regardless of whether a participant graduated from the program, costs were less at every time point compared to traditional court processing. 9 tables, 5 figures, and 22 references