The Impact on Drug Use and Other Psychosocial Outcomes: Results from NIJ's Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation

Abstract

The Urban Institute, the Center for Court Innovation, and RTI International conducted a five-year Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation on behalf of the National Institute of Justice. This presentation covers the impact of adult drug courts on: 1) drug use, 2) socioeconomic status, 3) family functioning, and 4) mental health. Results include offender characteristics at baseline (i.e., the severity of the problems that had to be overcome), as well as the impact of drug court participation in each area, and for whom drug courts work (i.e., whether they are particularly suited to some, as opposed to other, categories of offenders).

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About the Study

• Research Partnership: The Urban Institute, Center for Court Innovation, & Research Triangle Institute, with funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Drug Court vs. Comparison Sites:
  • Drug Court: 23 sites in 7 geographic clusters (n = 1156)
  • Comparison: 6 sites in 4 geographic clusters (n = 625)
• Repeated Measures: baseline and multiple follow-ups:
  • Interviews at baseline, 6 months, 18 months
  • Oral fluids drug test at 18 months
  • Official recidivism records up to 24 months

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