drug treatment courts: an international perspective

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DrugTreatmentCourts:AnInternationalPerspective

Hon.PeggyFultonHoraSuperiorCourtofCalifornia(Ret.)President,JusticeSpeakersInstitute


Alcoholandotherdrugs• Fuelmostcrimes• Arepresentinmostcasesofchildabuseandneglect• Haveoverwhelminglynegativeimpactsonfamiliesandsociety• Leadtoprematuredeath


EconomicCosttoU.S.SocietyfromSubstanceAbuse/Addiction

• Illegal Drugs: $181 Billion/Year• Alcohol: $185 Billion/Year• Tobacco: $158 Billion/Year

• TOTAL: $524 BILLION


PerpetratorisInvolvedinAlcoholorOtherDrugUsein…

• Morethan50%ofviolentcrimes• 60-80%ofchildabuseandneglectcases• 50-70%oftheftandpropertycrimes• 75%ofdrugdealing

Belenko and Peugh, 1998; National Institute of Justice, 1999.


Arrestees+forAnyDrug2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Chicago Sacramento Atlanta Wash.DC

52%

ADAMII2010,ONDCP

82%


$71,000peryeartohouseaprisonerinCalifornia

LegislativeAnalyst’sOffice2016-17


Whatifwejustputtheminjail?

29.9%ofU.S.prisonersreleasedin1998in15stateswererearrestedwithin6months;67%arerearrestedwithin3yrs


Whenjailistheonlyanswer:• U.S.jailandprisonpopulationis2.3millionasof2008

• 5%oftheworld’spopulation;25-50%prisoners

• 1:133Americansincarcerated

• 1:31adultsintheU.S.isonparole/probation

“LifeAfterPrisonCanBeDeadly,aStudyFinds,”TheNewYorkTimes,Jan.11,2007p.A23

“InmateCountinU.S.DwarfsOtherNations’,”TheNewYorkTimes,April23,2008p.1

“U.S.PrisonPopulationRisesDespiteaDropin20States,”NYTimesDec.9,2009p.A22


NationwidePollingResults• 62%believe“rehabilitatingortreatingtheperson”isthemostappropriateresponsetonon-violentoffenses

• >75%believethemostappropriatesentenceforapersonwithamentaldisordershouldnotinvolvejailtimeexceptforthemostseriousoffenses

• Only18%believetheroleofjailsshouldbetopunish.• 33%believeroleofjailshouldbetreatment/rehabilitation• 28%believecriminaljusticesystemsare“somewhat”or“veryunfair”

RTIInternationalandZogbyAnalytics(2017)


Whyisthistopicimportanttocriminaljustice?

• Approximately5-7%oftheU.S.populationhasaseriousmentalillness

• But14.5%ofmenand31%ofwomenincustodyhaveaSMI

• 33%ofdrugcourtparticipantshaveaco-occurringdisorder

“TaskForceforCriminalJusticeCollaborationonMentalHealthIssues,”AOCCA2010


Recidivismrateshigher

• Recidivismratesforprobationerswithmentalillnessarenearlydouble(54%vs.30%)

• ThosewithMIaremorelikelytohavetheirprobationrevokedthanthosewithout

• Paroleeshavehigherviolationrates

LorenaL.Dauphonot,“Theefficacyofcommunitycorrectionalsupervisionforoffenderswithseverementalillness57(9-B)DissertationAbstractsInternational:SectionB:TheSciencesandEngineering5912(March1997)


Largest mental hospital in U.S.?Los Angeles County Jail with 3,000 MI inmates every day

Earley, Pete, Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness (Putnam, 2006)


What if we just refer them to treatment?

Attrition• 50%to67%don’tshowforintake• 40%to80%dropoutin3months• 90%dropoutin12monthsOutcomes• 40%to60%ofclientsabstinentat1year

TreatmentResearchInstitute(2003)


WHATAREDRUGCOURTS?


ContraCostaCountyüDVüDWIüDrugüMHüElderAbuseüProp.36


~3,000DrugTxCourtsintheU.S.

DrugTxCourts

Adult

Juvenile

Family

DWI

Reentry

Tribal

Campus

FederalDistrict


210DrugCourts174OtherP-SCourts


ThePromiseofDrugCourt

• We can capitalize on the trauma and consequencesof an arrest to intervene with appropriateoffenders.

• More alcoholics/addicts will enter treatment soonerand stay longer.

• Highest level of accountability for the offenderwhile in the community.

• Concentration on high risk/high need offenders


DrugTreatmentCourts

DTCsemphasizealcoholanddrugtreatmentservices.Thetwogoalsoftheseprogramsare:ü toreducerecidivismofdrug-relatedoffensesandütocreateoptionswithinthecriminaljusticesystemthattailoreffectiveandappropriateresponsesforoffenderswithdrugproblems.


10KeyComponents

• Integratetreatmentinjusticeprocessing.

• Non-adversarialapproach.• Identifyclientsearly.• Continuumofservices.• Frequenttestingtoensuresobriety.

• Coordinatedstrategyofresponsestoclientbehaviors.

• Judicialinteraction.• Programevaluation.• Continuingeducation.• Partnershipsandcollaboration.


DODRUGCOURTS“WORK”?


5 Meta-Analyses

Citation Institution NumberofDrugCourts

CrimeReducedonAvg.by...

Wilsonetal.(2006)CampbellCollaborative 55 14%to26%

Latimeretal.(2006) CanadaDept.ofJustice 66 14%

Shaffer(2006) UniversityofNevada 76 9%

Lowenkampetal.(2005) UniversityofCincinnati22 8%

8%Aosetal.(2006) WashingtonStateInst.forPublicPolicy57


Retentionratesintreatment• 80-90%ofconventionaldrugtxclientsdropoutbefore12monthsoftx

• DTCsexertlegalpressuretoremainintxlongenoughtorealizebenefits

• >66%txclientswhoinitiatetxthroughDTCstayayearormore,6timestherateforprogramsoutsidejusticesystem

DrugCourts:TheSecondDecadeNIJSpecialReportNIJ,OJP,USDOJ(June2006)


DrugCourtParticipantsHadLowRecidivismRatesinCalifornia

Averagere-arrestsratesofstudyparticipants:• Drugcourtgraduates17%• Alldrugcourtparticipants29%• Comparisongroup41%

Carey(2000)


Cost Analyses

Citation Avg.BenefitPer$1Invested

Loman(2004) $2.80to$6.32

Finiganetal.(2007)

$6,744to$12,218Careyetal.(2006)

$11,000

Barnoski &Aos(2003) $1.74

Aos etal.(2006) N/A

Avg.CostSavingPerClient

$4,767

$2,888

$2,615to$7,707

$3.50

$2.63

Bhati etal.(2008) $2.21

No.DrugCourts

1(St.Louis)

1(Portland,OR)

9(California)

5(WashingtonSt.)

NationalData

N/ANationalData


CostBenefitofDrugCourtDrugCourtsSaveTaxDollars

NY:$254 million saved

CA: $90 million saved

TX: $9.43 savings for every $1 spent

OR: $10 savingsfor every $1 spent

WA: Saved $6,779 per drug court client


CaliforniaDrugCourtCostAnalysisStudy

• Inthemajorityofdrugcourtsites,thenetinvestmentwaslessthan$3,000perparticipant,withmostofthecostbeingincurredbyprobationandtreatment.

• TheaveragenetinvestmentforthesixsitesinphaseIIwas$1,593.• Onedrugcourtprogramcostnearly$500lessperparticipantthantraditionalcourtprocessing.

• Theaveragenetsavingsfrompositiveoutcomes(includingsavingsduetolessvictimization1)was$11,000perparticipant.


HOWABOUTTHEAPPLYINGMODELTOOTHERPOPULATIONS?


~1,200 Problem-Solving Courts

P-SCourts

Re-entry Gun

Community

MentalHealth

DV

Prosti-tution

ParoleViolation

Homeless

Veteran

IntegratedTx

Truancy

ChildSupp

Gambling


DWICOURTS


10 Guiding Principles of DWI Courts

• 1.DeterminingthePopulation

• 2.PerformingaClinicalAssessment

• 3.DeveloptheTreatmentPlan

• 4.SupervisetheOffender• 5.ForgeAgency,

OrganizationandCommunityPartnerships

• 6.TakeaJudicialLeadershipRole

• 7.DevelopCaseManagementStrategies

• 8.AddressTransportationIssues

• 9.EvaluatetheProgram• 10.EnsureaSustainable

Program


Reducedrecidivism

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

KootenaiID

LansingMI

Bernalillo

DWICourt

BAU

15.5%28.5%after2years

13%33%after5years

4%25%after2years

DWIre-arrestrates

Guerin&Pitts,2002


MIDWICourtOutcomeEvaluation2007

DWICt.

BAU0

5

10

15

20

25

Year1Year2

Year3

DWICt.

BAU

DWI

ALL

15.2%24.2%

4.3%7.7%

.07%

13.6%

Fuller,CareyandKissick,2007

Re-arrestrates19x’sgreaterforoffenderssentencedtraditionally


Re-ArrestRatesGADWICourtOffenders65%LessLikelytoReoffend

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Graduates BAU

26%

9%

•4year,3sitestudy•Prevented47-112repeatarrests

Fell,etal.,“AnEvaluationoftheThreeGeorgiaDUICourts,”NHTSA(March2011)


• Theresultsofalong-termrecidivismstudyshowthat21%ofsecond-offensedrunkdriversand25% ofthird-offensedrunkdriversinthestatewereconvictedofasubsequentDUIoffensewithinfiveyears.

• DuringthesevenyearsfromtheinceptionoftheDUICourtprogramin2004throughtheendof2011,ofthe779programgraduates,only36havebeenconvictedofasubsequentDUIoffense— arecidivismrateof4.6%.

OrangeCo.CA


InternationalPerspectiveonProblem-SolvingCourts

• AustraliaBermuda• EnglandJamaica• CanadaMauritius• ScotlandWales• IrelandNorthernIreland• NewZealandGuam• CaymanIslandsN.Marianas• BelgiumGuam• NetherlandsMexico• GeorgiaSurinam• MacedoniaIsrael• BrazilNorway• ArgentinaBahamas• EcuadorIndonesia• SamoaCostaRica


2017

“UnityWasEmergingonSentencing.ThenCameJeffSessions.”

Hulse,Carl,The NewYorkTimes(May14,2017)


NewAdministration• Directedfederal

prosecutorsaroundthecountryalwaystobeasharshandpunitiveasthelawallowswhenmakingchargingdecision

• FormerAGEricHolder,“ instructedprosecutorsdealingwithdrugcasestoconsiderwhetherthemostseverepunishmentavailablewasfairandproportional.”

AttorneyGeneralJeffSessions

Neyfakh,Leon,“JeffSessionsIssues‘MoralandJust’PolicyRequiringProsecutorstoSeektheHarshestSentencePossible,”TheSlatest (May12,2017)


Mandatoryminimums• OneformerfederaljudgefromTennesseesaidhewasforcedtosentencealow-level

drugdealertolifeinprison.Thedefendantrefusedtotakeapleadealfor20yearsinprisonandwasconvictedattrial.

• “Undernocircumstanceswasthissentencejustice,”saidtheformerjudge,KevinSharp,whohasbecomeanadvocateforsentencingreform.“Weruinedhislife.”

• Eliminationofmandatoryminimumslettoa14%declineintotalFederalprisonpopulation

• RedstateslikeTexasdidawaywithharshpenaltieswhenEnergySecretaryRickPerrywasgovernor.

Tanfani,Joseph&EvanHalpar,“Sessionsrestorestoughdrugwarpoliciesthattriggermandatoryminimumsentences,”LosAngelesTimes(May12,2017)


Congressionalreaction

• AbipartisangroupinCongressistryingagaintoreducemandatoryminimumsentences

• KentuckyRepublicanSen.RandPaulandDemocratsPatrickLeahyofVermontandJeffMerkley ofOregonhavereintroducedwhattheycallthe“JusticeSafetyValveAct.”

• Reps.BobbyScott(D-VA)andThomasMassie(R-KY)arereintroducingcompanionlegislationintheHouse.


Congress,con’t.• “Mandatoryminimumsentencesdisproportionallyaffectminoritiesandlow-incomecommunities,whiledoinglittletokeepussafeandturningmistakesintotragedies,”Paulsaid.

• Leahysaidmandatorysentencescome“withahumancost,particularlyforcommunitiesofcolor,andresultsinacriminaljusticesystemthatisanythingbut‘just.’Ourbipartisanapproachoffersasimplesolution: Letjudgesjudge.”

Gest,Ted,“CongressmenTryAgaintoCutMandatoryMinimumTerms,”TheCrimeReport(May17.2017)


Reactions– RobertReich1.Mandatorysentencinglawsfordrugusersarearelicofunfair,

ineffective,costly,andracistpolicies– leadingtotheimprisonmentofmoreAmericansandatahigherratethaninanyothercountry.

2.Sessionssaidthecrackdownwas‘akeypartofPresidentTrump’spromisetokeepAmericasafe,’linkingdrugtraffickingtoincreasedhomicideratesinsomecities.ButtherateofoverallhomicidesinAmerica,aswellasotherseriouscrimes,issignificantlydown.

3.Thenewpolicydisproportionatelytargetsminoritiesbecauseofhowdifferentdrugsarecategorizedunderthelaw.EvenRepublicanSen.RandPaulsaidthe‘newpolicywillaccentuatethatinjustice’.JeffSessionsisagainprovinghimselftobeignorantandracist.Reich,Robert,InequalityMedia(May13,2017)


TheSentencingProject

• “Sessions’decisiontoreversetheObama-eradirectivethatdeprioritizedtheDepartmentofJustice’suseofharshmandatoryminimumsentencesinlow-leveldrugcasesisahugemisdirection,”saidMarcMauer,ExecutiveDirectorofTheSentencingProject

• “[Thispolicy]willagainfillfederalprisonswithpeopleconvictedoflow-leveldrugoffensesservingexcessivesentences”


FormerAGEricHolder• “Itisanideologicallymotivated,cookie-cutterapproachthathasonlybeenproventogenerateunfairlylongsentencesthatareoftenappliedindiscriminatelyanddolittletoachievelong-termpublicsafety.”

• “Thepolicyannouncedtodayisnottoughoncrime.Itisdumboncrime”

Lillis,MikeandLydiaWheeler,“ObamaAGripsSessionsasbeing‘dumboncrime’,”TheHill(May12,2017)

drug treatment courts: an international perspective

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