Evaluation of the Denver Drug Court: The Early Years, 1995-1996

• NCJ Number: 199094
• Author(s): Linda Harrison; Diane Patrick; Kim English
• Date Published: November 2001
• Length: 100 pages
• Corporate Author: Colorado Dept of Public Safety
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Colorado Dept of Public Safety
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded February 14, 2003.

Annotation

This evaluation of the Denver Drug Court (Colorado) obtained information on all drug offenders processed through the court the first quarters of 1995 and 1996 and compared them to drug offenders who were serving probation/deferred judgment sentences in 1993, prior to the beginning of the Drug Court.

Abstract

The Denver Drug Court, which began operating in July of 1994, has the goals of early intervention and treatment for drug offenders, with tight supervision and immediate consequences for behaviors; expedited handling of all cases; computerized online information regarding offender compliance with treatment; guilty pleas in all cases, some subject to later withdrawal; and a consistent team of personally committed professionals. This evaluation found that in 1995-96, 81 percent of Drug Court cases participated in treatment for at least 6 months. The Drug Court clientele in these years had criminal histories that were significantly more serious compared to pre-Drug Court cases in Denver, but the recidivism rate (new filing after sentence completion) at 12 months and 24 months was slightly lower than pre-Drug Court cases. Compared to the 1993 sample, Drug Court cases were significantly more likely to be charged with heroin-related crimes and somewhat less likely to be charged with cocaine-related offenses. Overall, the first 2 years of Drug Court operation apparently had a positive impact on many drug offenders and perhaps on the larger criminal justice system. Serving a significantly more difficult clientele, the Drug Court in 1995-96 had similar recidivism rates as pre-Drug Court probation/deferred judgment supervision clients. Given the finding that Blacks have been more likely to fail the Denver Drug Court program, the evaluation recommends the development of cultural competency standards for all levels of staff concerned with the Drug Court clientele, from arrest to the courtroom, the assessment process, and the clinical setting. 8 tables and appended ADAM data for the year 2000, summary of literature review findings, data collection forms, comparison data, and resources for multiculturalism.