Qualitative Examination of the Juvenile Drug Court Treatment Process

• NCJ Number: 219478
• Journal: Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: 2006 Pages: 91-114
• Author(s): Valerie Bryan; Matthew Hiller; Carl Leukefeld
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 24 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts; Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents evaluation results from a focus group study on the effectiveness of a juvenile drug court.

Abstract

Results indicated that the target population is juveniles with substance abuse or dependence issues, although 13-year-olds were considered too young to benefit from the juvenile drug court process and 17-year-olds were considered too old for program entry due to logistical problems. Most participants served by the program had a wide range of substance abuse problems. The juvenile participant’s family circumstances were considered a direct influence on their program success or failure. Goals of the juvenile drug court included remaining drug-free; developing life management skills; acquiring academic, social, and vocational skills; creating a support system for the juvenile; and reducing criminal recidivism. Immediate objective of the juvenile drug court were to stabilize home situations and stop juvenile criminality. Therapeutic interventions included urinalysis and consistency of structure. Frustration was expressed over the level and amount of treatment services provided to juveniles. Recommendations are presented and include regular attendance by public defender attorneys. Future research should focus on the treatment process in order to promote the development of a best practice model. Focus group participants were 10 practitioners from an established juvenile drug court, including the judge, drug court coordinator, drug court case specialist, practitioner from the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), 2 treatment providers, 2 Commonwealth’s Attorneys, Department of Public Advocacy attorney, and a representative from the public school district. The focus group discussion addressed the implementation and functional activities of the juvenile drug court, including its target population, long- and short-term goals, community resources, participant characteristics, impediments to success, and therapeutic activities. The analysis involved the development of a logic model, or coding paradigm that focused on the situational context, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences of the process under study. Figures, note, references