Alternative Programs for Drug Offenders: An Evaluation of a Rural Drug Court.

Source: (2010) Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology. Northern Illinois University.

In response to the failing War on Drugs movement, drug courts were developed
with goals to rehabilitate offenders in terms of criminality and drug dependency. In this study, I evaluate a rural drug court to determine its effectiveness in terms of retention, graduation and recidivism rates as well as what social characteristics are associated with program success or failure. Lastly, I interview drug court participants and team members to ascertain which components of the program are responsible for the outcomes. Findings indicate that, in absolute terms, this program shows effectiveness through high graduation and retention rates and low recidivism rates. Participants with more social capital (i.e., marriage, children, education and employment) are more likely to graduate and not recidivate after program completion. According to team members and participants, most important components include individualized drug treatment, support from staff and participants, and the emphasis on education and employment. (Excerpt).