Pretrial Urine-testing in the District of Columbia: Its Usefulness for Risk Classification and as a "Signaling Device" for Release Risk

• NCJ Number: 130703
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1991) Pages: 369-381
• Author(s): M A Toborg; A M J Yezer; J A Carver III
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 83-IJ-CX-K046
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Systematic urine-test data from arrestees in Washington, D.C. improved risk classification of arrestees with regard to pretrial rearrest, failure-to-appear, and overall pretrial misconduct; urine testing of defendants released before trial was an effective "signaling" mechanism of post-release risk.

Abstract

Successful participants in the pretrial urine-testing program had rates of misconduct that were about one-half the rates for individuals who failed to show up for urine testing or who dropped out after only a few tests. 2 notes, 2 tables, and 14 references (Author abstract)