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Drug courts have provided a treatment option to drug addicted offenders for the last 30 years. While important evaluation work has compared graduates and non-graduates, it was limited to those individuals who either applied for entry or were actually admitted. Unfortunately, informal aspects of the entry process can result in differential representation of groups, a form of selection bias that makes interpretation of group effects difficult. The category of race is particularly important in this regard, both for its complex interdependency with other dimensions of stratification and because of its historical significance in focusing systems of social control. The authors propose that an understanding of race as part of a larger social context of opportunities, expectations, and resource allocation is necessary in interpreting both significant and non-significant research results for criminal justice programs. Based on data from 440 drug court participants (230 graduates, 210 unsuccessfully discharged) spanning over six years, results demonstrate ways in which the social context behind program eligibility and screening, including assessments of risk and motivation for change, may affect the racial makeup of program participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wealth of research has been amassed documenting the effectiveness of drug treatment courts in addressing the needs of substance-abusing individuals involved with the criminal justice system. However, there is a relative dearth of research that examines the long-term impact of these programs on recidivism rates for both drug treatment court graduates and those unsuccessfully discharged from the program. In this study, we examine which demographic and programmatic/legal factors influence program disposition and recidivism rates of participants (both graduates and those unsuccessfully discharged) across the 5 years following their discharge from a drug treatment court program located in a suburban city in the Midwest. The study sample consists of 249 (N = 249) male participants who have been out of the program for more than 5 years. Results from the univariate and multivariate analyses are provided, as well as policy implications, directions for future research, and study limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Client control orientation is modeled as a force on program completion in alcohol treatment programs. A representative sample of adult alcohol abusers entering all state-funded programs in Missouri was recruited into the study and administered a pre-treatment interview including a locus of control scale. Official program records of completion and reason for non-completion were also accessed. The theoretical advantage of internal control orientation on client outcomes post-treatment was mitigated by its inverse relationship to a desire to change and to program completion. Possible reasons for an effect of locus of control on retention in program are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, there is a mounting body of research that supports the hypothesis that alcohol and other drug dependency treatment works. This view is further advanced when indicators for success extend beyond abstinence to other quality of life issues. Most of the studies that reach these conclusions are conducted in controlled, enriched, small, singlesite programs. This 2-year prospective study reports findings similar to these other studies, but the sample was drawn from a large, multisite, government funded system of programs. The authors conclude that government expenditures on alcohol and drug abuse treatment are well spent, but more focused scrutiny and accountability is appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical research indicates that posttreatment factors, including employment, residential stability, and social and family support, influence the resiliency of treatment outcomes. The degree to which current treatment methods affect such outcomes is the subject of much research and debate. The authors argue that case management should be considered complementary to traditional treatment services. By focusing directly on community functioning and social rehabilitation, case management can positively affect factors associated with relapse and alcohol-related problems. A strengths-based, outreach model of case management is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]