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Research on Drug Courts: A Critical Review 1999 Update

NCJ Number
183232
Journal
National Drug Court Institute Review Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 1999 Pages: 1-58
Author(s)
Steven R. Belenko Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
58 pages
Annotation
This chapter briefly describes the work of Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and the National Drug Court Institute, and previews the articles in this issue of the National Drug Court Institute Review.
Abstract
This issue examines research questions concerning the outcomes of various aspects of the drug court program and seeks to find and analyze those factors that indicate “what works” for the drug court model. The volume contains articles concerning drug court evaluations; cost-benefit research and analysis for the drug court model; effective strategies in the context of interventions like drug courts and the “black box” of treatment services; and eight drug court research evaluations. Encouraging trends in evaluating drug court activities include use of: (1) qualitative and quantitative data; (2) basic treatment delivery data; (3) data on sanctions and incentives; (4) outcome data, primarily measures of recidivism; and (5) multivariate analyses of various outcomes such as graduation, time in treatment, and post-program recidivism. Tables, references