Impact on Case Processing and Case Outcomes The impacts of drug courts on criminal case processing and case outcomes have analyzed. Key findings include:
Initial case processing speed: Drug court cases reach initial disposition more quickly than conventional court cases. Participants in drug courts spent significantly less time from arrest to initial disposition/program entry than comparison defendants.
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Impact on Recidivism Drug courts produced recidivism reductions compared with conventional case processing.
On average, 75% of Drug Court graduates remain arrest free. Without Drug Court, the rate of recidivism is 90%.
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Drug Courts restore families. Family re-unification rates are 50% higher for family drug court participants.
The scientific community concludes that drug courts work
-better than jail or prison;
-better than probation and treatment alone;
-better at reducing drug use and crime; and
-better that any other criminal justice method at saving money.
This is critical information for our community, especially in these days of mounting fiscal constraints. Reducing the amount of recidivism will reduce crime. Reducing crime will protect our neighborhoods. It will also reduce the volume of cases handled in our courthouse. It will also improve the ability of our Police Department to keep officers out on the street.
