U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Efficacy of Diversion and Aftercare Strategies for Adult Drug-Involved Offenders: A Summary and Methodological Review of the Outcome Literature

NCJ Number
220037
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 379-387
Author(s)
Evelyn Harvey; Anthony Shakeshaft; Kate Hetherington; Claudia Sannibale; Richard P. Mattick
Date Published
July 2007
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study reviewed diversion and aftercare programs for drug-involved offenders.
Abstract
Results of the study found that the evaluation studies of diversion programs published in the last 10 years continue to be characterized by poor methodological quality and inadequate reporting of study details, and that there is opportunity to conduct evaluations in the area of aftercare that is not prison-based or postrelease. Twenty outcome studies were identified for review: 19 on diversion and 1 on aftercare. Although most studies were prospective, few reported on long-term outcomes following treatment. Detail was lacking in basic study characteristics, such as eligibility criteria and outcomes. All studies were conducted in the United States (n=79 percent) or Australia (n=21 percent). Total sample sizes ranged from 156 to 1,966 with a mean of 601 and a median of 399 participants per evaluation. Figure, table, references