Deborah Koetzle Shaffer

Drug abusing women in the community: the impact of drug court involvement on recidivism

Developing community-based options for drug abusing women is important for a variety of reasons. One option that shows promise is the treatment-oriented drug court. Although drug courts enjoy considerable empirical support, relatively few studies have examined the efficacy of this model for women. The current study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes between a sample of moderate to high-risk drug court participants (n=91) and probationers (n=80). Over the course of an average two year follow-up period, female drug court participants were found to have significantly lower rates of recidivism than their probation counterparts. The results of an event history analysis confirmed that drug court participants were significantly less likely to recidivate even after controlling for differences in length of follow-up. These findings provide support for the ability of drug court programs to successfully treat drug-involved women.

Outcomes Among Drug Court Participants: Does Drug of Choice Matter?

The link between drug and alcohol abuse and criminal behavior is clearly illustrated in the literature. The options of how to respond to these offenders, however, has widely fluctuated over time. Currently, many states have reconsidered their “get tough” approach to one that is more rehabilitative in nature. One particular community-based intervention that has gained in popularity is the drug court model. The literature on drug courts is generally supportive; however, there is a need to examine effectiveness by target population. The purpose of this study is to explore recidivism rates of drug court clients by drug of choice. Using a 2-year follow-up period, this study finds that drug of choice does not significantly influence either successful graduation or arrest. Policy implications are discussed.

Methamphetamine Users in a Community-Based Drug Court: Does Gender Matter?

Abstract This paper examines men and women methamphetamine (meth) users who participated in a community-based drug court. The treatment of female drug users is a particularly salient issue because of the concerns with relapse and recidivism. For the current study, we studied the impact of the drug court by gender on a group of high-risk/high-need meth users. The results of the multivariate analysis models indicate that men have a higher probability of failure over an 18-month follow-up period. These findings suggest that a comprehensive drug court can be an effective strategy for women meth users even with an assortment of needs.

Combating Methamphetamine Use in the Community The Efficacy of the Drug Court Model

Methamphetamine use was historically a problem facing Western states; however, in recent years it has methodically spread throughout the nation. Methamphetamine use impacts communities, families, and the criminal justice system in a variety of ways. As such, many jurisdictions are developing policies to reduce the sale and consumption of this drug as well as increase penalties for its use. The question of whether methamphetamine users can be safely and effectively treated in the community is unresolved. This study explores whether community-based drug courts are a reasonable option for treating this population. Results of the study indicate that drug of choice does not influence outcome in a drug court setting. Policy implications are discussed.

An Exemplar-Based Approach to Risk Assessment: Validating the Risk Management Systems Instrument

This study examines the predictive validity of Risk Management Systems (RMS), a fifth-generation risk/needs assessment. In contrast to traditional risk assessments, the RMS uses exemplar-based modeling to classify offenders as high or low risk. Using a sample (N = 830) of offenders on supervised release by the U.S. Probation Office, the current study explores the relationship between the RMS scores and recidivism. The results indicate that RMS recidivism and violence scores are predictive of arrests, technical violations, and unsuccessful terminations from supervision. However, only a limited number of offenders were assigned to the high-risk category, which may limit the utility of the instrument. Policy implications are discussed.

Meta-Analysis, Moderators, and Treatment Effectiveness: The Importance of Digging Deeper for Evidence of Program Integrity.

Meta-analyses of the correctional treatment literature have become increasingly common in recent years. These studies generally indicate that well-crafted treatment programs substantially reduce rates of recidivism. Nevertheless, a key issue that has emerged concerns the relative absence of detailed information on treatment program characteristics from published reports and articles that can be used in moderator analyses (i.e., which types of program characteristics “matter” with regard to the magnitude of treatment effects). In this article, we argue that meta-analysts need to go beyond what can be found in such printed reports and to instead investigate more systematically the treatment programs themselves for additional information. If so, a richer and more policy-relevant body of literature can emerge concerning “what works” in offender treatment.