Predictors of drug court client graduation

ABSTRACT

This descriptive study examined differences between Shelby County Drug Court (DC) graduates and dropouts, and identified predictors of graduation. More graduates were employed, Caucasian females with a high school diploma and preferred alcohol as their primary drug choice. Education, diluted urine drug screens, rearrests, and jail sentencing sanctions variables from the prediction model were tested for indirect effects with the mediating variable for number of program days on DC graduation. Consistent with the direct effects, low education had the greatest effect on not graduating, which has implications for DC practice changes and future literacy research with the DC client population.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug court
• drug offenders
• offender rehabilitation
• quantitative research
• substance use