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The "Tomahawk" And The "Healing Balm": Drug Treatment Courts In Theory And Practice, Richard Boldt

Richard C. Boldt

More than 2,000 drug courts now operate throughout the U. S. and in a number of other countries. Hundreds of other problem-solving courts derived in one way or another from drug courts are also in operation. The data seem to indicate that drug courts increase the retention rate of clients in treatment and, for those participants who complete the program, may lead to reduced rates of either re-arrest or re-conviction relative to control groups of substance misusing offenders processed through the traditional criminal system. There is, however, considerable variation in outcome associated with offender characteristics and local institutional practice. Consequently, …