NCJ Number
213335
Date Published
October 2005
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This New South Wales (Australia) study examined whether there were early indicators of future program compliance under treatment regimens mandated by an Adult Drug Court.
Abstract
Of the 217 participants who had been in the Drug Court program for at least 3 months, 79 percent were still in the program at 6 months. Whether or not sanctions had been imposed during the first 3 months of the court's mandate (including custodial periods and suspended sanctions) was predictive of a participant being later prematurely terminated from the program at 6 months. The number of bench warrants issued for unauthorized absences from the treatment program was also predictive of later program termination. Missed program appointments and having tested positive for both stimulants and opiates during the first 3 months were independently predictive of later offending. The early identification of individuals likely to be later terminated from the program signals the need for appropriate adjustments in treatment in order to reduce the risk of program failure. Also, persons at serious risk of willful noncompliance could be removed from the program at an early stage, so as to reduce program costs. The study cohort consisted of those participants who began the Drug Court program between January 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002. The investigation was restricted to participants who had remained in the program for at least 3 months, because program failures beyond 3 months cause a more substantial waste of money. The study examined retention in the program at 6 months, offending during the fourth through the sixth months, and drug use during the fifth and sixth months. The two major drug-use outcome indicators were having tested positive for opiates and having tested positive for both opiates and stimulants concurrently. 12 tables, 11 references, and 4 notes