NCJ Number
181895
Date Published
1999
Length
78 pages
Annotation
The methodology for applying cost-benefit analysis to drug court evaluations described in this paper was developed in conjunction with the evaluation of the District of Columbia Superior Court Drug Intervention Program.
Abstract
This paper presents a more complete methodological approach to applying cost-benefit methods to drug court evaluations than has previously been used. This includes key methodological decisions that precede data instrument design and data collection, an overview of costs to be collected, secondary sources for valuing benefits, and data elements to be collected. A key part of the methodology presented is a strategy for collecting data to measure benefits in the following domains: reduced crime, improved health, labor market gains, and improved family life. The chapters include descriptions of the data elements needed to measure the benefits associated with a drug court in each benefits category. Generally, the recommendations assume that data are collected from two sources: (1) official records such as the number and type of arrests before and after program participation and (2) a participant survey that captures data associated with benefits for which no official records are available, such as health outcomes, employment, and family cohesion. The survey should also collect criminal justice data, particularly with respect to the number of criminal acts committed during the period under evaluation. 14 tables, 24 references, and 8 appendixes with details on methodology