NCJ Number
213918
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2006 Pages: 119-145
Date Published
2006
Length
27 pages
Annotation
In exploring the implementation, effectiveness, and decisionmaking process of drug court programs, this study assessed key factors related to the implementation and rewards in five Florida drug court programs.
Abstract
Utilizing several Florida drug court programs, results indicate that the number of sanctions used by the drug court programs greatly exceeded those used by traditional courts or probation. Key stakeholders identified numerous behaviors (18 distinct behaviors) likely to result in sanctions. The extensiveness of sanctions used was substantially greater than that of the rewards used, with only half as many rewards as sanctions identified to encourage compliance. Lastly, derived from a qualitative analysis, the drug court programs appeared to emphasize tailoring the sanction to the individual participant, rather than applying sanctions in a uniform manner. However, it is recommended that additional research be conducted to address how drug court programs’ sanctioning systems related to program effectiveness. This study addressed several research gaps in the drug court literature regarding implementation, perceived effectiveness, and decisionmaking pertaining to sanctions and rewards. In selecting five Florida judicial circuits, this process evaluation examined the use of rewards and sanctions to reinforce compliance and to compare linkages among the courts, treatment, and probation in drug courts and traditional courts. Tables and references