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How Drug Treatment Courts Work: An Analysis of Mediators

NCJ Number
217094
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 3-35
Author(s)
Denise C. Gottfredson; Brook W. Kearley; Stacy S. Najaka; Carlos M. Rocha
Date Published
February 2007
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This study examined the program elements of Drug Treatment Courts (DTC) that are linked to drug-use reductions among DTC participants, with attention to the factors that mediate DTC outcomes.
Abstract
The findings show that participation in DTC increased the number of judicial hearings attended, which directly reduced drug use and indirectly reduced crime. Participation in the DTC increased social controls for participants both directly and indirectly by increasing the duration of drug treatment and monitoring. Data for this study were obtained from the Baltimore City (Maryland) DTC, which was established in 1994. Clients generally entered the drug court program as a condition of probation after regular court processing. Those referred to DTC were required to be at least 18 years old and not have any convictions for violent offenses. An assessment determined a potential participant's motivation and need for treatment. If the assessor recommended a person for the DTC, he/she participated in program elements that involved intensive supervision, drug testing, drug treatment, and judicial monitoring over a period of approximately 2 years. The evaluation of the Baltimore DTC used an experimental research design. Between February 1997 and August 1998, 235 clients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: program participation (n=139) and regular probation (n=96). A total of 157 participants were interviewed 3 years after the evaluation began. They were administered instruments that determined criminal offenses committed, drug use, and the frequency of multiple-drug use. Also measured were the number of days of drug treatment, days of drug testing, days of probation, the number of status hearings attended, and the days of suspended sentence. 7 tables, 1 figure, 6 notes, and 55 references