FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLETION OF A DRUG TREATMENT COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM

Abstract

Factors related to successful completion of a first offender diversion program were examined from initial data of a longitudinal study of drug treatment court outcomes in Delaware. The strongest predictors of success were factors associated with social stakeholder values, especially those involving employment. Other factors associated with program completion included race, education, and frequency of drug use. While the overall success of drug treatment courts continues to be documented, these data suggest success varies with individual characteristics. The continuing study will explore whether these characteristics are also related to subsequent outcomes, especially drug use relapse and criminal recidivism, over a 24-month post-treatment period.

• Drug treatment court
• Diversion programs
• Stakeholder values
• Compulsory treatment
• Case management

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Clifford A. Butzin

Clifford A. Butzin, Ph.D., is an Associate Scientist with the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware. He taught in the Psychology and Mathematics departments at Delaware before joining the Center. He was previously Chief of the Research Consulting division at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, and before that on the faculty at Duke University. His publications include articles on judgmental processes in psychology, and on HIV and various other topics in medical research.

Christine A. Saum

Christine A. Saum, Ph.D., is an Associate Scientist with the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware. She has worked on studies of treatment barriers for crime-involved cocaine-dependent women, treatment evaluation, and HIV/AIDS. She is currently Project Director of a NIDA study of drug court offenders in outpatient treatment. She has authored and co-authored articles in the areas of substance use, drug policy and the drug legalization debate, sex in prison, and “date-rape” drugs, and has co-authored a book on cocaine-exposed infants.

Frank R. Scarpitti

Frank R. Scarpitti, Ph.D., is the Edward and Elizabeth Rosenberg Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. He served as President of the American Society of Criminology and as Chair of the Crime, Law and Deviance Section of the American Sociological Association. His publications include books and articles on mental health, juvenile delinquency, social problems, group therapy, organized crime, and drug user treatment programs.