NCJ Number
12762
Date Published
1973
Length
92 pages
Annotation
SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF NINETEEN METHADONE MAINTENANCE AND DRUG-FREE TREATMENT PROJECTS IN NEW JERSEY, WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO THEIR IMPACT ON CRIMINALITY.
Abstract
DATA ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CLIENTS IN TREATMENT WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR ARREST RECORDS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT. THE STUDY INCLUDES NEW JERSEY-WIDE ARREST RECORDS FOR A SAMPLE OF THIRTY PEOPLE AT EACH OF THE SEVENTEEN PROGRAMS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE CLIENTS WERE OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE. THE TYPES OF TREATMENT RECEIVED BY THE CLIENTS WERE RECORDED, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED, AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE HOW THE CLIENTS WERE FUNCTIONING IN TERMS OF VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND DRUG ABUSE FOLLOWING THEIR RELEASE FROM THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS WAS ALSO OBTAINED AND STUDIED. THE PRINCIPAL ITEM OF ANALYSIS IN THIS STUDY WAS A COMPARISON OF ARRESTS BEFORE TREATMENT WITH ARRESTS AFTER TREATMENT. AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT WERE ABATED DUE TO THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS IS GIVEN. AMONG OTHER FINDINGS, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT DRUG PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE MEASURED, THAT BOTH METHODS OF TREATMENT ARE HELPFUL IN REDUCING CRIME, AND THAT NEITHER METHOD IS NECESSARILY MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE OTHER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)