NCJ Number
208685
Date Published
November 2004
Length
164 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings of a process evaluation of Christchurch's (New Zealand) Youth Drug Court Pilot, which was conducted to facilitate better service delivery to juvenile offenders with alcohol and drug dependency.
Abstract
The pilot program was operated in the existing youth court, augmenting the youth court process by suspending the formal disposition of the case until the juvenile successfully completed the treatment program or was discharged back to the youth court or to the district court. The structure of the project provides for judicial oversight of the treatment process, so as to have a monitoring mechanism through the court that rewards success and holds juveniles accountable for failure to comply with treatment conditions. This process evaluation examined the program's operation for the first 18 months (March 14, 2002, to August 2003). This report includes aggregated information on all the 30 juveniles who entered the program during its first year (March 14, 2002, to March 13, 2003). The methods used for the process evaluation included interviews, observation, file analysis, and reoffending analysis on prior and accumulated offending while in the program. Interviews were conducted with 12 juveniles, 11 family members of 8 youth, and 38 key respondents. The evaluation found that the program facilitated the early and efficient identification of youth with alcohol and other drug dependencies, reduced processing time delays, used interagency coordination, and monitored the progress of the juveniles in treatment. All of the juveniles and family members interviewed were very positive about the program and wanted it to continue. Recommendations for improvement include the development of an operations manual with job descriptions for the youth drug court team, expanded interagency cooperation, the clarification of victims' rights, improved follow-up after discharge, and continuing discussions about selection criteria. Extensive tables and figures, 4 references, and appended evaluation forms