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
In addition to exploring the rearrest rates among the sample of participants discussed above, rearrest data were collected on graduates of the program. The arrest record checks were conducted in January 1999. The Hamilton County Drug Court began accepting participants in March of 1995, and the first graduation was held in July of 1996. The participants in this sample include individuals who graduated from the drug court program between the time period of July 1996 to November 1997. Although Hamilton County has held graduation since this date, the analysis is limited to the participants graduating in 1996 and 1997 to allow for a minimum 18-month follow-up period. The rearrest rates are calculated post-graduation and do not include arrests while in the program.
The rearrest rates among graduates appear very promising. Figure 18 presents the overall rearrest rates among graduates. The results indicate that 31 percent of participants who graduated from the drug court in 1996 and 1997 were arrested for a new charge as of January 1999. Table 17 illustrates the rates by graduating class. It appears that 23 percent of the July 1996 graduates have been rearrested since graduation day. Furthermore, 35 percent of the October 1996 graduates, 63 percent of the March 1997 graduates, 29 percent of the June 1997 graduates, and 31 percent of the November 1997 graduates have been rearrested since graduation day. Overall, as Figure 19 illustrates, these results are very encouraging that the drug court may be having a long-term effect on participants.
Of those rearrested, Figure 20 indicates that the rates among men and women are very similar with the exception of the October graduating class. Specifically, Table 17 illustrates that 44 percent of the females in this class were rearrested in comparison to 29 percent of the men. With regard to charge, the majority in all five graduating classes were likely to be rearrested for a drug charge, with the second most likely to charge being a theft. In addition, Table 17 illustrates that the majority in all five graduating classes were likely to be arrested for a felony charge. And finally, although some differences exist, the majority of participants in all classes were not arrested more than once during the follow-up period.
The purpose of this section was to address the recidivism rates among graduates of the drug court program.
What are the rearrest rates among graduates?
* Overall, only 31 percent of the graduates have been rearrested during the 18-month follow-up period.
* The sample includes five graduating classes. The rearrest rates among the classes are as follows: first graduating class: 23 percent, the second class: 35 percent, the third class: 36 percent, the fourth class: 27 percent, and the fifth class: 31 percent.
*With regard to charge, the majority in all five classes were likely to be rearrested for a drug charge. Moreover, the overall majority were also likely to be rearrested for a felony charge. However, the majority were not likely to be arrested more than one time post-graduation.
What are the rearrest rates among graduates by gender?
* The rearrest rates by gender are very similar with the exception of the second and third graduating class.
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