Impacts of COVID-19 on Drug Treatment Court Operations: Lessons Learned Through Normalization Process Theory

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study investigates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug treatment courts through the lens of court team members. We conducted semi-structured interviews, guided by Normalization Process Theory, to learn how transitioning to remote operations impacted courts, clients, and practices. Team members gave mixed reviews of the utilization of remote technology for drug treatment court processes, citing the advantages of increased flexibility and accessibility alongside concerns about client accountability. Additionally, there was disagreement on whether remote technology promoted or hindered communication between the clients and the judge. Interviewees also endorsed the idea of keeping the remote option post-pandemic for specific categories of clients.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug treatment courts
• COVID-19 pandemic
• remote technology
• normalization process theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy at the University at Buffalo School of Law [Faculty Research Grant awarded to L. Kahn, PI] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Grant [#R017CE003144]; [PIs: L. Kahn and G. Homish].