The Hamilton County Drug Court: Outcome Evaluation Findings
Final Report
Introduction | Methods | Profile | Treatment Considerations | In-Program Behavior | Subsequent Criminal Behavior | Subsequent Criminal Behavior Among Graduates | Conclusions and Implications | Report Authors
The Hamilton County Drug Court began in March 1995. The target population includes those arrestees who are drug dependent or in danger or becoming drug dependent. To qualify for the drug court, the following criteria must be met: (1) the defendant must be charged with a fourth or fifth degree felony (2) there must be no history of violent behavior (3) the current and /or past criminal behavior is drug-driven (4) the Hamilton County Prosecutor must approve of all incarcerated offenders' applications, (5) the defendant must have no active mental illness, and (6) the offender must demonstrate a sincere willingness to participate in a 15-month treatment process and have no acute health conditions.
The design being utilized in this project is a quasi-experimental matched control group design. This study is designed to assess program outcomes among drug court participants as compared to a similar group of drug-addicted adults who did not participate in the drug court. The sample includes cases screened for the program during the time period of January 1, 1997 to October 31, 1998.
To estimate the impact of the drug court on future criminal involvement, it was important to select a control group for comparison purposes. An experimental design including random assignment was not feasible; however, groups were matched with regard to demographic characteristics. The data were obtained through pretrial data and court docket information. The experimental and comparison group cases were identified by examining various data sources that included: demographics, case history, assessment information, and the Judge's daily drug court docket containing disposition and outcome information. The criteria for inclusion in the sample were that each participant must have (1) a reported substance abuse problem, and (2) be eligible for the drug court program. The experimental group (n= 226) and the comparison group (n=230) are described below:
Experimental Group
Individuals who are eligible and willing to participate in court mandated drug treatment are transported to the ADAPT treatment facility for an assessment. This treatment program was established for all male and female drug court participants. Individuals must remain at the treatment facility until their court hearing at which time the treatment recommendation is submitted to the drug court Judge. The treatment program is community-based and includes three phases: inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare. Placement in each level of treatment is determined by level of substance addiction. The residential phase serves fifty-two males and sixteen females. Offenders sent to the residential phase were required to stay a minimum of two weeks up to a maximum of ninety days. The intensive outpatient phase lasts approximately four weeks and groups meet three hours a day four times a week. The continuing care or aftercare phase initially offers services twice a week for one hour but is eventually scaled down to one meeting every two weeks. Services offered during all three phases include: group and individual counseling, sobriety meetings, educational services, and family involvement. The total amount of time between commencing the residential phase to completion of aftercare spans an average of 15 months. The purpose of the treatment facility is to provide community-based substance abuse treatment coupled with close supervision and frequent urinalysis.
Control Group
The control group included in the present study consisted of men and women who were eligible for drug court, however did not receive drug court services. This group of clients did in fact have a drug abuse problem, however either refused drug treatment or were refused by the treatment facility.
Data Sources
The data were collected from a variety of sources. First, the database manager, at Pretrial Services in Hamilton County, compiled social demographic, current offense, disposition, and criminal history information. Second, the treatment needs and participation in treatment were collected at the ADAPT program both for women and men, primarily by staff from the University of Cincinnati. The staff at the probation department collected court-reported violations and fees, community services ordered, and the necessary recidivism data. And finally, the court collected the recidivism data on graduates. The recidivism data were collected during the early part of 1999.
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