Understanding the impact of a DUI court through treatment integrity: A mixed-methods approach

ABSTRACT

Research on treatment courts that specifically target drunk drivers (DUI courts) is mixed. Research on correctional interventions also suggests that treatment integrity is a central component of intervention effectiveness. The current study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine how an evaluation of treatment integrity can be used to inform an outcome evaluation of a DUI court. Results from the evaluation are compared to the results of a process evaluation focusing on adherence to “what works.” Discussion focuses on effectiveness of DUI courts, the importance of treatment integrity, and the benefits of this mixed method approach for program improvement.

KEYWORDS:

• Drunk driving treatment court
• evidence-based practice
• mixed methods
• outcome evaluation
• treatment fidelity

Notes

Only four individuals had been referred to other outside services in the two years prior to the assessment. This was less than 1% of the sample size.

While the instrument is titled “drug court” it is applicable to treatment courts in general. Thus, the tool is an appropriate indicator of program integrity for a DUI court.

A description of the items in each domain is available to the reader in Blair et al. 2016.