Low-Level Drug Offenders: Lessons From the Drug Courts

• NCJ Number: 151463
• Author(s): W J Dickey
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Campaign for an Effective Crime Policy
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Public Policy Reports: A Series of Reports on Major Issues in Criminal Justice

Annotation

This document is intended to advance discussion and debate about sentencing policies.

Abstract

In response to the growing numbers of drug offenses, many jurisdictions throughout the criminal justice system have created drug courts. These courts are based on one of two philosophies: the efficiency model, with a goal of swift case processing, and the aggressive treatment intervention model, which focuses on providing treatment as an alternative to prison. Efficiency drug courts appear to have successfully speeded up case disposition time, but have also had a net-widening effect on prosecuting cases that previously would not have been brought to court or would have been dismissed. Many offenders in these courts are sentenced to probation without treatment, and recidivism rates are very high. The treatment oriented courts are characterized by outpatient drug treatment under the close supervision of the court. Although the model is relatively new, initial results are promising. The author's findings and conclusions about those courts are detailed in the document. Executive summary, endnotes, appendix