NCJ Number
171140
Date Published
June 1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This report addresses the background of the drug court "movement," the major areas in which drug courts differ from traditional adjudication processes, and salient achievements to date.
Abstract
The drug court movement began in 1989 as an experiment by the Dade County Circuit Court (Florida), when it assigned a judge to devise and oversee an intensive, community-based treatment, rehabilitation, and supervision program for felony drug defendants. The drug court has since become a national movement, and drug courts are now underway in 48 States, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, a number of Native American Tribal Courts, and one Federal district court. Close to 100,000 drug-dependent offenders have entered drug court programs since their inception, and more than 70 percent are either still enrolled or have graduated, more than double the rate of traditional treatment program retention rates. Most of the offenders who come before drug courts are serious drug abusers who have never been exposed to treatment, and a majority have already served jail or prison time for drug-related offenses. In addition to drug treatment, drug courts also emphasis educational and mental health services. The original goals for drug courts -- reductions in recidivism and drug use -- are being achieved, with recidivism rates substantially reduced for graduates and, to a lesser but significant degree, for participants who do not graduate. Justice system benefits also result from drug courts. A supplementary enclosure provides summary data on drug court activity and achievements.