Does Drug Court Work?
Preliminary data has been very favorable.
An evaluation of the Miami Drug Court
by
the National Institute of Justice shows
a
60 percent reduction in recidivism
over a
four-year period. An in-house evaluation
of the Oakland Drug Court showed a
44 percent
reduction in felony recidivism after
three
years. Other studies in Portland, Oregon,
Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Illinois
have
shown similar reductions in recidivism.
The recent CALDATA study showed a significant
reduction in criminal activity during
and
after treatment (-20%), in drug sales
(-61%)
and the use of a weapon or physical
force
(-71%).
