NCJ Number
187312
Date Published
March 2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals invited law enforcement leaders from six communities to a focus group (March 2, 2000) for the purpose of clarifying what makes a successful law enforcement linkage with a drug court; this report on the focus group addresses what a good law enforcement/court relationship would be, based on the drug court model.
Abstract
The report first offers descriptions of actual law enforcement/drug court linkages, followed by an overview of what is working in drug court/law enforcement linkages. Findings from the focus group indicate that law enforcement participants viewed participation in drug courts as a proactive way to address community problems that stem from drugs. Further, strategies such as drug court can help law enforcement change the way it is perceived in some communities, since drug court focuses on rehabilitation with accountability for treatment progress, rather than punishment. Focus group members viewed the drug court as an effective way to stop the "revolving door" phenomenon that has police continuing to encounter and arrest the same offenders repeatedly. Through its rehabilitation efforts, the drug court helps to achieve behavioral change that reduces recidivism. Focus group members appreciated that the drug court closely monitors the treatment progress of participants and holds them accountable in achieving positive change in treatment. The focus group concluded that effective law enforcement linkages with drug courts must start at the top echelons of the police agency. Suggestions for how this may be achieved were offered by the participants. The focus group also discussed tactics for winning over intransigent public officials who oppose drug courts. In addition, the focus group discussed the future of drug courts and their linkage with police agencies.