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RECONSIDERING DRUG COURT EFFECTIVENESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW

SHAFFER, DEBORAH KOETZLE
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1152549096

Abstract Details

2006, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education : Criminal Justice.
The first drug court was implemented in 1989, largely in response to the increasing number of substance-using offenders moving through the criminal justice system. Today, there are over 1,100 drug courts operating throughout the United States and an estimated 230,000 offenders had received drug court services by the year 2000. Despite the rapid proliferation of drug courts, relatively little is known about their effectiveness. Previous research on drug courts has been mixed in terms of its support. Some studies have found that drug courts fail to have an effect or actually increase recidivism, prior meta-analyses have found drug courts to be generally effective. It is likely that differences in drug court effectiveness may be attributable to differences between the drug courts themselves. The current study used a modified approach to meta-analysis to identify characteristics associated with the most effective drug courts. A total of 60 drug court evaluations were identified representing 76 distinct drug courts and 6 aggregated drug court programs. Data regarding policies and procedures were collected from 63 of the distinct drug courts via telephone surveys. These data were then combined with data collected from outcome evaluations. This approach allowed for an overall effect size to be calculated across the 82 distinct effect sizes and the exploration of moderating variables across 63 drug courts. Potentially moderating variables were grouped into 11 domains including: assessment, funding, intensity, leverage, philosophy, predictability, service delivery, staff characteristics, target population, treatment characteristics, and quality assurance. Consistent with prior meta-analyses, the current study found that drug courts, on average, reduce recidivism 9 percent. Adult drug courts appear to fare better than juvenile drug courts, and pre- or post-adjudication drug courts are more effective than mixed model drug courts. In terms of moderators, the target population, leverage, staff, and intensity domains were able to explain the most variance in effectiveness. These domains were followed by the treatment, philosophy, funding, and service delivery domains. The domains with the least ability to explain variance were predictability, assessment, and quality assurance.
Dr. Edward Latessa (Advisor)
315 p.
Sociology, Criminology and Penology
Drug Court; Meta-Analysis

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • SHAFFER, D. K. (2006). RECONSIDERING DRUG COURT EFFECTIVENESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1152549096

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • SHAFFER, DEBORAH. RECONSIDERING DRUG COURT EFFECTIVENESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW. 2006. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1152549096.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • SHAFFER, DEBORAH. "RECONSIDERING DRUG COURT EFFECTIVENESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1152549096

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1152549096
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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.