Measures of Success: Capturing the Impact of Drug Courts
128 Pages Posted: 20 Mar 2013
Date Written: December 20, 2012
Abstract
This paper discusses research completed in 2012 as part of a Master of Criminology and Corrections degree through the University of Tasmania into measures of success in drug court participation. Visits were made to nine drug courts and various associated programs internationally and interviews were conducted with a wide range of stakeholders. Data from interviews with 16 current participants in the Tasmanian Court Mandated Diversion program provided first-hand information about the benefits of program participation, and a form designed to collect this information is included. The emphasis of the paper is on capturing the impact of drug court participation and how success can be measured, evaluated and demonstrated. Cost savings are considered with a view to securing the ongoing financial viability of such programs as they are demonstrated to represent good use of public money. Practical recommendations from my observations of 16 drug courts worldwide are made for consideration by the local drug court program.
Keywords: drug courts, therapeutic jurisprudence, evaluation, cost savings, international
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