NCJ Number
147121
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1994) Pages: 26-33,76-77
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has named Officer Michael Cargill Officer of the Year because of his efforts to stop the flow of drugs into the prison system. This article also discusses how drug courts work and what their underlying principles are.
Abstract
Drug court judges recognize the limitations of coercion as a tool against drug offenders and reject the notion that the failure of an offender to stop using drugs while under court supervision is not necessarily the result of willful defiance of judicial authority. Instead, drug court judges use a pragmatic judicial intervention strategy, using both positive and negative incentives, to gain offender compliance. The most important principles of drug court work include immediate, up-front intervention; coordinated, comprehensive supervision; long-term treatment and aftercare; and progressive sanctions and incentives programs. "Smart punishment" relies on the use of progressive sanctions and a set of incentives aimed at encouraging program success. Characteristics of a drug court that can ensure structural accountability include unified focus, co-funding, interagency planning, program procedures and guidelines, setting a mission and goals, periodic review, hands-on vertical participation, developing partnerships, and data collection. One example of a program using contingency contracting is the Oakland FIRST Diversion Program. 1 reference