NCJ Number
169766
Date Published
1997
Length
24 pages
Annotation
These reports present a program description and statistics on the participants in the Santa Clara County (Calif.) Drug Treatment Court between March 1, 1996 and March 31, 1997.
Abstract
The court started operation as a pilot project on September 11, 1995. It meets weekly and is designed for severely addicted nonviolent hardcore drug addicts who are in custody at the time of the filing of the complaint and have long histories of convictions and drug abuse without treatment. The court uses a 1-year treatment plan as an alternative to punishment and incarceration alone for these recidivists. The four treatment modalities include in-custody treatment provided in the jail, residential treatment, a sober living setting plus intensive outpatient treatment, and intensive outpatient treatment. The three phases of treatment are (1) stabilizing and recovery skills, (2) primary treatment, and (3) ongoing recovery and exit plan. The participant data reveal that 81 percent of the defendants have continued their participation over the 1-year period, 6 percent have outstanding bench warrants, 73 percent have gained and maintained employment, and 77 percent test free of drugs. Only 3 percent of participants and graduates were rearrested over the 1-year period, and participants spent 50 percent less time in custody than did those who declined treatment. In addition, jail time for participants has become part of the treatment continuum rather than lost time. Figures and tables