Examining individual factors and during-program performance to understand drug court completion

ABSTRACT

This study examined individual factors and during-program data to understand drug court program completion. A total of 534 Kentucky Drug Court (KDC) participants were randomly selected from the larger KDC population (N = 4,881). Logistic regression showed that older age and receiving outpatient referrals were associated with completion. Factors associated with reduced odds of completion were: Non-White race, being married, lower educational level, increasing number of psychological/emotional treatment episodes, increasing number of positive drug tests, receiving incarceration and warrant sanctions, and prior criminal justice involvement. Understanding drug court completion is important to make modifications to better meet participants’ needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Criminal justice involvement
• drug court completion
• program retention
• substance use