Evaluation of the Multnomah County Drug Testing and Evaluation Program

• NCJ Number: 156051
• Author(s): D P Cavanagh; A V Harrell
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 93 pages
• Grant Number(s): 91-DD-CX-K057
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: BOTEC Analysis Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; BOTEC Analysis Corporation
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the methodology and results of a process and impact evaluation of the Multnomah County Drug Testing and Evaluation Program (DTE) (Oregon).

Abstract

DTE is intended to help selected clients (either arrestees awaiting trial or convicted and sentenced offenders) rid themselves of drug-abusing behavior by providing random, weekly drug tests to all clients in the program. These drug tests are designed to allow DTE to monitor each client's compliance with release conditions and progress in treatment programs, as well as to intervene appropriately when a client shows signs of a drug- abuse problem. DTE is also intended to provide a bridge between the pretrial and posttrial supervision of clients. The DTE program supplements drug testing with client drug evaluations and treatment recommendations that are provided to the client's probation officer or case manager. The process evaluation describes the functioning of DTE from its inception in January 1991 through the spring of 1992. The process evaluation analyzes how DTE's functioning during this period deviated from that intended by its designers and implementers. The impact evaluation examines whether the pretrial and probation/parole programs reduced recidivism and increased compliance with court orders among defendants or offenders released under the supervision of the courts. The findings show that the DTE program of drug testing did not significantly reduce arrests among offenders or increase compliance with conditions of court orders. As in prior evaluations of drug-testing programs, the program has been weakened by problems in implementation. These included the lack of sanctions for DTE violations, the limited use of evaluations of client drug problems, limited access to treatment, and the apparent lack of coordination between the pretrial and postadjudication phases of the program. The evaluation recommends swift and sure sanctions for positive drug tests and expanded access to treatment for offenders with drug problems. 4 tables and appended administrative and logistical changes in the DTE, DTE's organizational structure and personnel, and the probation officer survey