NCJ Number
239512
Date Published
July 2011
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This report from the National Drug Court Institute provides an update on drug courts and other problem-solving court programs in the United States.
Abstract
The key findings in this report are from two surveys: the national survey of drug court and other problem-solving court activity as of December 31, 2009 (Part I), and the statewide survey of drug court and other problem-solving court activity as of December 31, 2008 (Part II). Highlights from the 2009 survey include the following: as of December 31, 2009, there were 2,459 drug courts in the country, an increase of 40 percent from the previous 5 years; 58 percent of adult drug courts followed a post-plea model; and there were 1,189 problem-solving courts as December 31, 2009. Highlights from the 2008 survey include the following: as of December 31, 2008, 56 percent of counties in the country did not have an adult drug court, 84 percent did not have a juvenile drug court, and 87 percent did not have a family dependency treatment court; the primary reason limiting drug court expansion was funding, not lack of judicial interest; and on average, African-Americans were reported to represent 21 percent of drug court participants. The data for this report was obtained from surveys sent to statewide drug court coordinators or other primary points of contact in the various drug court programs. The report is divided into several sections: the aggregate number and types of operational drug courts and other problem-solving court programs throughout the country; recent research findings related to the most prevalent drug court models; analyses of national survey data on drug court capacity; drug-of-choice trends among drug court participants in rural, suburban, and urban areas; average graduation rates and participation costs for court participants; State drug court authorization legislation and funding appropriations; and international drug court activity. Tables, figures, references, and endnotes