Alternative Resolution Court – How Do We Spell SUCCESS? – 2019-11-05
The Peel Alternative Resolution Court is a collaborative approach in a “therapeutic judicial” environment at the A Grenville and William Davis Court. ARC supports individuals who are living with mental illness, developmental and intellectual delay, dual diagnosis, concurrent disorders, acquired
Beyond the “Revolving Door?”: Incentives and Criminal Recidivism in a Mental Health Court [2017]
Specialized mental health courts (MHCs) address the growing problem of defendants with mental illness cycling through the criminal justice system. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this article explores if MHCs can slow the “revolving door” of criminal justice involvement. We use
Collaboration: A Mechanism of Drug Court Model Adherence [2019]
Drug courts solve problems, namely, reducing drug use and recidivism. The current research attempts to answer the question of how to ensure program fidelity and therefore optimize the efficacy of drug courts. Justice professionals and scholars have recognized that there
Collaboration: A Mechanism of Drug Court Model Adherence [2019]
Drug courts solve problems, namely, reducing drug use and recidivism. The current research attempts to answer the question of how to ensure program fidelity and therefore optimize the efficacy of drug courts. Justice professionals and scholars have recognized that there
Court-Ordered Evaluations From a Mental Health Court – 2018
Mental health courts (MHCs) have been in existence for more than 20 years, but little is known about the demographics, clinical features, and court outcomes of MHC defendants court-ordered for competence to stand trial (CST) evaluations. We examined these items
Courting the community: Organizational flexibility and community courts – 2018
This article examines how a community court in the United States framed its mission to a diverse population of stakeholders. Drawing from 11 months of ethnographic data, I show how community courts’ embrace of both punitive and therapeutic goals help
Disproportionality in Juvenile Justice Diversion: An Examination of Teen Court Peer-Derived Consequences [2019]
Juvenile justice diversion programs, such as Teen Court (TC), represent an alternative to traditional juvenile justice responses to youth misbehavior and delinquency. However, although TC represents a potential strategy to address disproportionate minority contact, there is a dearth of research
Drug Court Through the Eyes of Participants [2017]
Operating with community support and through partnerships among treatment providers and the criminal justice system, drug courts address substance abuse as a root cause of criminal behaviors. Drug court success depends heavily on implementing the drug court model with fidelity
Drug Court through the Lenses of African American Women: Improving Graduation Rates with Gender-Responsive Interventions [2019]
Drug courts began in the United States in 1989, and nearly three decades of evidence has shown that drug courts are more effective than other criminal justice interventions at reducing criminal recidivism. There has, however, been a trend in some
Drug Courts and Net-Widening in U.S. Cities: A Reanalysis Using Propensity Score Matching [2019]
Although drug courts were intended to reduce the justice system involvement of drug offenders, a recent study found evidence that drug courts were associated with increased (rather than decreased) arrests for minor misdemeanor drug offenses (Lilley, 2017; Walsh, 2011). However,
Effectiveness of Mental Health Courts in Reducing Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis
Objective: Mental health courts (MHCs) were developed to address the overrepresentation of adults with mental illnesses in the U.S. criminal justice system through diversion into community-based treatment. Research on MHCs has proliferated in recent years, and there is a need
Electronic monitoring devices during substance use treatment are associated with increased arrests among women in specialty courts [2020]
BackgroundElectronic monitors (EMs) are commonly used as a sanction and to improve compliance with substance use treatment and reduce re-arrest in criminal justice settings. However, there is minimal evidence for their effectiveness, especially among women. ObjectivesWe examined whether the use
Evaluation of Treatment and Other Factors That Lead to Drug Court Success, Substance Use Reduction, and Mental Health Symptomatology Reduction Over Time [2018]
Adults presenting with substance use and mental health disorders in the criminal justice system is well documented. While studies have examined drug courts and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), few have examined social and behavioral health indicators, and even fewer have multiple
Evaluation of Treatment and Other Factors That Lead to Drug Court Success, Substance Use Reduction, and Mental Health Symptomatology Reduction Over Time [2018]
Adults presenting with substance use and mental health disorders in the criminal justice system is well documented. While studies have examined drug courts and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), few have examined social and behavioral health indicators, and even fewer have multiple
Examining Factors Associated With Program Completion Among Women Participants in a Statewide Drug Court Program – 2018
The study purpose was to examine factors affecting women in completing drug court. Participants were 212 women drug court participants selected via stratified random sampling (by county) from the larger Kentucky Drug Court participant population. Various secondary data sources were
Examining Individual Characteristics and Program Performance to Understand Two-Year Recidivism Rates Among Drug Court Participants: Comparing Graduates and Terminators [2018]
Drug courts strive to break the cycle of substance use and crime by providing community-based treatment and rehabilitation. The purpose of the present study was to (a) identify significantly different factors between program participants (i.e., graduates/terminators) that may affect recidivism
Examining Individual Characteristics and Program Performance to Understand Two-Year Recidivism Rates Among Drug Court Participants: Comparing Graduates and Terminators [2018]
Drug courts strive to break the cycle of substance use and crime by providing community-based treatment and rehabilitation. The purpose of the present study was to (a) identify significantly different factors between program participants (i.e., graduates/terminators) that may affect recidivism
Examining Predisposing Factors and Program Performance Indicators Associated With Program Completion: A Comparison of Opioid and Non-Opioid-Preferring Participants in Drug Court [2019]
Opioid use and abuse, as well as criminal justice involvement, have increased dramatically in the past two decades. Drug court is a community-based rehabilitation program for individuals with substance abuse issues involved in the criminal justice system. Given unique treatment
Examining the impact of a gender-specific drug court on recidivism – 2016
Research into the effects of drug courts on recidivism has generally demonstrated positive results. These results have led to the expansion of the drug court model which focuses on causes or problems for specific populations, such as drunk drivers, mental
Examining the Impact of Prior Criminal Justice History on 2-Year Recidivism Rates: A Comparison of Drug Court Participants and Program Referrals – 2016-04-28
Drug courts seek to break the cycle of substance use and crime by providing a community-based intervention to individuals with criminal justice involvement and substance-related issues. This study examined recidivism over a 2-year follow-up period as well as factors associated
Examining the use of visual performance feedback in drug treatment court – 2018-02
A key component of drug courts is regular status hearings in which the judge reviews client progress and imposes sanctions or rewards for infractions or achievements; however, little is known about whether drug court clients fully understand the reasons for
Exploring the Relationship Between Dual Diagnosis and Recidivism in Drug Court Participants – 2017
There is limited research investigating the relationship between dual diagnosis and offender outcomes in drug court settings, specifically regarding recidivism. The current study examined the effects of dual diagnosis on recidivism following participation in one drug court in the Southwestern
Exploring the Relationship Between Dual Diagnosis and Recidivism in Drug Court Participants [2018]
There is limited research investigating the relationship between dual diagnosis and offender outcomes in drug court settings, specifically regarding recidivism. The current study examined the effects of dual diagnosis on recidivism following participation in one drug court in the Southwestern
Further Evidence of Racial Disparities in Drug Court Outcomes: Enhancing Service-Delivery to Reduce Criminal Recidivism Rates for Non-White Participants [2019]
The first drug court began in 1989, and since their inception, they have expanded to over 3,000 in the United States and United States territories. The long-term goal of drug courts is to reduce criminal recidivism rates for nonviolent offenders
Identifying Predictors of Substance Use and Recidivism Outcome Trajectories Among Drug Treatment Court Clients [2017]
Drug treatment court (DTC) is a diversion program for individuals with drug-related crimes. However, the DTC literature is conflicting with regard to substance use and recidivism outcomes. This study examines factors associated with improved client outcome trajectories among a multisite,
Implementing Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: A Meta-aggregation of Process Evaluations [2019]
Juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTCs) continue to be popular. However, results of a recent meta-analysis raised doubts regarding their effectiveness over traditional juvenile justice system processing. The objective of this study was to systematically review the qualitative and quantitative evidence
Improving the quality of drug court clinical screening: a call for performance measurement policy reform [2018]
Despite the widespread use of the drug court model, standardized performance measures for drug courts are not uniformly utilized, and rarely include process measures. To ensure that drug courts are being implemented in the most effective manner, the use of
Innovations in Mental Health Diversion – Life Skills Groups for Mental Health and Justice Clients – 2015-11-18
This workshop will introduce a new Life Skills Group offered by the Fred Victor Mental Health Court Support Program, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The rationale for this innovation in Mental Health Diversion programming will
Integrating a Co-occurring Disorders Intervention in Drug Courts: An Open Pilot Trial [2018]
Little research has focused on systematically integrating clinical treatment within existing drug court procedures. This could be particularly useful for clients with substance use disorders, who comprise those on court dockets and often have co-existing mental health issues. This article
Integrating injectable opioid agonist treatment into a drug treatment court program: A case study [2018]
Background: A substantial proportion of individuals involved with the North American criminal justice system are convicted for drug-related activities. Drug treatment court (DTC) programs were developed as an alternative to incarceration for drug-related offences and aim to prioritize addiction treatment
Integrating injectable opioid agonist treatment into a Drug Treatment Court program: A case study [2018]
Background: A substantial proportion of individuals involved with the North American criminal justice system are convicted for drug-related activities. Drug treatment court (DTC) programs were developed as an alternative to incarceration for drug-related offences and aim to prioritize addiction treatment
Investigating the Impact of Child Maltreatment Histories on Drug Court Outcomes – 2018
Although child maltreatment, mental illness, and substance abuse are significantly correlated, only the relationship between mental illness and substance abuse has been documented as potentially affecting the implementation of criminal justice policy. The current study considers the influence of child
Investigating the Impact of Child Maltreatment Histories on Drug Court Outcomes [2018]
Although child maltreatment, mental illness, and substance abuse are significantly correlated, only the relationship between mental illness and substance abuse has been documented as potentially affecting the implementation of criminal justice policy. The current study considers the influence of child
Jail Diversion and Recidivism: A Case Study of a Municipal Court Diversion Program [2016]
Municipal Courts in the United States have jurisdiction over cases involving municipal ordinance violations such as loitering, trespassing, public drunkenness, and vandalism. When an individual violates a city ordinance, the typical punishment is a fine, even if the defendant is
Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: Policy And Practice Scan [2020]
As part of a research team on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Initiative to Develop and Test Guidelines for Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts, WestEd conducted a policy and practice scan (also called an “environmental scan”) to
Key performance indicators for Australian mental health court liaison services [2017]
Objectives: The aim of this paper is to describe the development and technical specifications of a framework and national key performance indicators (KPIs) for Australian mental health Court Liaison Services (CLSs) by the National Mental Health Court Liaison Performance Working
Legitimation in action: an examination of community courts and procedural justice [2018]
We are at a critical moment in criminal justice reform as public distrust grows and threatens the legitimacy of the justice system. This is especially true for poor communities of color who have lower levels of trust because they have
Mental Health Courts – Finding Institutional Resilience and Promoting Justice – Keynote – Heather Perkins-McVey – 2015-11
Specialized Courts have been a fixture of the criminal justice system for almost 20 years. In the same way that personal resilience is important to one’s well being so is institutional resilience to ensure that a program is responsive to changing circumstances
Mental Health Courts in Ontario
Mental health courts in Ontario are not specifically regulated in their operation. There is no existing ministerial mandate to determine where they should exist, and how they should operate. They have therefore been operating on an ad hoc basis. With
Mentee and mentor perceptions of a mentoring court for high-risk probationers [2020]
As part of an evaluation of the only known mentoring problem-solving court for adult moderate- and high-risk probationers in the United States, the current study investigated mentors and mentees’ perceptions of the programme. Data sources included surveys of and focus
Ottawa Mental Health Court Therapy Dog Project – 2019-11-05
Since September 2018, the Ottawa Courthouse has brought in accredited therapy dogs to interact with accused persons, their families, witnesses, counsel, courthouse staff, social workers, officers: everyone and anyone who wants to get the well-documented stress reducing benefits of doggy
Outcome Effects on Recidivism Among Drug Court Participants [2018]
Drug courts were established to reduce recidivism rates for substance-involved offenders who traditionally would have been sentenced to conventional probation supervision. Past research has reported success in this area, but much of the success is limited to those who graduate
Outcome Effects on Recidivism Among Drug Court Participants [2018]
Drug courts were established to reduce recidivism rates for substance-involved offenders who traditionally would have been sentenced to conventional probation supervision. Past research has reported success in this area, but much of the success is limited to those who graduate
Participants’ views on the strengths and limitations of drug court: Recommendations to enhance assessment and treatment of mental illnesses – 2018
Since 1989, drug courts have provided an alternative to incarceration for arrestees who have a substance use disorder. Previous research has suggested that participants who graduate from the program are less likely to recidivate than those who are terminated from
Participants’ views on the strengths and limitations of drug court: Recommendations to enhance assessment and treatment of mental illnesses – 2018
Since 1989, drug courts have provided an alternative to incarceration for arrestees who have a substance use disorder. Previous research has suggested that participants who graduate from the program are less likely to recidivate than those who are terminated from
Pausing in the wake of rapid adoption: A call to critically examine the veterans treatment court concept [2019]
Veterans treatment courts (VTCs) are currently the fastest growing specialized court in the United States. In the wake of this rapid dissemination, the field has begun to empirically research VTCs but has acknowledged that little is known about them. While
Perceptions of Balanced Justice and Rehabilitation for Drug Offenders [2018]
Drug courts were designed as a way to provide both rehabilitation and sanction-based approaches to drug offenders. Yet studies have not directly tested a “balanced” approach to justice for drug offenders. Drawing on the work of Mears, Pickett, and Mancini,
Peterborough Community Support Court: An Evaluation in Recidivism – 2019-11-06
Problem-solving courts were developed to treat the root cause of criminality. Mental health and drug courts are two of the most common types of problem-solving courts in Canada. The models adopted by MHCs and DTCs vary substantially across jurisdictions in
Predictors of graduation and criminal recidivism: Findings from a drug court that primarily serves African Americans [2020]
Drug courts are an alternative to incarceration for individuals who have substance use disorders. The drug court model is guided by key interventions (e.g., required treatment, frequent status hearings with a judge, continuous drug testing, prosecutors and defense attorneys collaborating
Prison sentences: last resort or the default sanction? [2018]
This paper discusses the sentencing purposes for penal penalties, judges’ perceptions of sentencing purposes and prison sentences, and the effects of penal sanctions. We examine judges’ positions towards different penalties, with a focus on imprisonment, since their views on the