NCJ Number
254446
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: 2019 Pages: 605-645
Date Published
2019
Length
41 pages
Annotation
Although juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTCs) continue to be popular, results of a recent meta-analysis raised doubts regarding their effectiveness over traditional juvenile justice system processing, so the current study systematically reviewed the qualitative and quantitative evidence related to the inner workings of JDTCs to identify ways to improve outcomes.
Abstract
The study involved an extensive systematic search for process and implementation studies, which resulted in the identification of 59 studies that met eligibility criteria. Meta-aggregation methods were used to extract 477 study findings, which were categorized thematically. This article reports on a subset of findings within four thematic categories that contain the largest number of methodologically credible findings: (1) family members as stakeholders in the JDTC process, (2) standards for ensuring accountability and youth compliance with court expectations, such as the consistent application of behavioral contingencies, (3) the availability of community and school services, and (4) the various needs of JDTC clients, such as mental health treatment. Based on these findings, this study suggests a modified causal change model for JDTCs that extends the theoretical framework for JDTCs to incorporate improving youth psychosocial functioning as an important outcome. Implications for the role of JDTCs within the juvenile justice system are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)