A survey of 355 judges examined the differences in judicial satisfaction between those assigned to problemsolving courts-such as drug treatment and unified family-and judges in other more traditional assignments such as family law and criminal courts. The unified family court systems, like drug treatment courts, have generally adopted the principles of therapeutic jurisprudence. Significant differences were found on each of the three survey scales: (1) helpfulness, (2) attitude toward litigants, and (3) positive effects of assignment. The judges who were in the problem-solving courts (drug treatment and unified family court) scored higher on all three scales than those who were not (traditional family and criminal court). The group of problem-solving court judges consistently scored higher than the other group of judges, with the drug treatment court judges scoring the highest. The group of traditional criminal court and family court judges scored less positively, with the criminal court judges having the lowest scores. The problem-solving court judges were more likely to report believing that the role of the court should include helping litigants address the problems that brought them there and were more likely to observe positive changes in the litigants. They were also more likely to believe that litigants are motivated to change and are able to do so. They felt more respected by the litigants and were more likely to think that the litigants were grateful for help they received. The problem-solving court judges were also more likely to report being happy in their assignments and to believe that these assignments have a positive emotional effect on them.

Attitudes about drinking and driving have changed dramatically over the past few decades due to a combination of factors. Initiatives to address impaired driving have varied from harsher penalties to substance abuse treatment responses. This article reviews what works, what doesn't, what is inconclusive, and what looks promising for the future including traditional police responses such as sobriety checkpoints and vehicle or license sanctions. Victim Impact Panels and other more innovative initiatives have mixed reviews. Knowing that severity of sentences does not affect long term change, the criminal justice system has initiated robust programs that look promising. Courts are using new technologies and pharmacological responses to monitor offenders and reduce recidivism. Over the past ten years, Driving While Impaired (DWI) courts have sprung up throughout the United States and look to be an important part of the goal of reduced impaired driving and resulting crashes.