NCJ Number
43053
Date Published
1976
Length
173 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF DATA GATHERED ON 1223 CLIENTS FROM NINE COURTS PARTICIPATING IN A MASSACHUSETTS DRUG SCREENING AND TREATMENT PROGRAM FOUND SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN NUMBERS OF ADDICTS IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
SAMPLES WERE DRAWN FROM COURT FILES IN 1972 AND 1975, BEFORE AND AFTER CENTRALIZED ADDICTION SCREENING AND EVALUATION (CASE) PROGRAMS WERE BEGUN IN LAWRENCE, MIDDLESEX, ROXBURY, WORCESTER, AND SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. INTERVIEWS WERE ALSO CONDUCTED WITH JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND PROGRAM STAFF. IT WAS FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH CASE WAS SET UP TO IMPLEMENT A MASSACHUSETTS LAW MANDATING EXAMINATING FOR ALL DEFENDANTS FACING DRUG CHARGES, THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION TO TREATMENT DESCRIVED IN SECTION 47, CHAPTER 123 OF THIS LAW RARELY USED. ONLY 15% OF DRUG-CHARGE DEFENDANTS RECEIVED CASE SCREENING. HOWEVER PERSONS FACING NONDRUG CHARGES BUT SHOWING DRUGS AS A FACTOR IN THEIR CRIMINALITY HAD A 7 PERCENT EXAMINATION RATE IN 1972 AND A 22 PERCENT RATE IN 1975; 66 PERCENT OF THESE EXAMINATIONS WERE THROUGH CASE. AT LEAST 35 PERCENT OF CLIENTS REFERRED TO TREATMENT WERE STILL IN TREATMENT OR HAD COMPLETED TREATMENT AFTER 1 YEAR. THERE WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY CASES REFERRED TO TREATMENT. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS INCLUDING STATISTICS, MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND METHODOLOGY ARE GIVEN FOR EACH LOCAL PROJECT. APPENDIXES GIVE DATA CODING FORMS, INTERVIEW GUIDES, AND TABULATION OF INTERVIEW RESPONSES.