NCJ Number
182619
Date Published
2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Recognizing the potential of drug courts to relieve overburdened criminal justice systems and correctional facilities, this paper examines the relationship between courts and custodial resources to help policymakers and drug court administrators become more aware of the dynamics that influence jail and prison bed savings.
Abstract
Drug courts offer opportunities for conserving jail and prison bed space, specifically with respect to speeding case processing to reduce pretrial detention, decreasing recidivism among drug court graduates, and diverting offenders bound for jails and prisons. Practices that erode jail and prison bed savings include using jails to punish or treat participants and penalizing failure. The case for prison and bed savings using drug courts is compelling. Research combined with widespread anecdotal evidence provides a convincing picture of reductions in pretrial detention as a result of speeding up case processing. Even more encouraging, the body of literature on recidivism is strong enough to conclude that completing a drug court program reduces the likelihood of future arrest, at least within the first 2 years. Strategies drug court planners and operators can employ to promote jail and prison bed savings are listed. 30 footnotes and 3 figures