Understanding and Responding to Racial Differences in Drug Court Outcomes

Abstract

Significant differences in outcomes and characteristics exist between Caucasians and African-Americans in ten Missouri adult drug courts. Caucasians are more likely to graduate and they differ in significant ways from African-Americans in the context in which they lived their lives prior to drug court. Differences were significant between the two groups in employment levels at entry, primary drug of choice, levels of positive family support, and socioeconomic status. Using the evidence from this study, ways that treatment providers can better meet the needs of African-Americans are discussed.

Predicting Termination from Drug Court and Comparing Recidivism Patterns: Treating Substance Use Disorders in Criminal Justice Settings

“…Two of these variables, in particular, stand out as consistent findings across the drug court literature. Consistent with previous research, the findings from this study suggest that having a high school diploma or equivalent (Gray & Saum, 2005;Mullany & Peat, 2008;Vito & Tewksbury, 1998) and being employed or a student (Dannerbeck et al, 2006;Hartley & Phillips, 2001;Mullany & Peat, 2008) are among the top predictors for having successful drug court outcomes. As education and employment continue to emerge as important components related to criminal justice outcomes, the evidence suggests that improvements be made to enhance educational and employment opportunities for participants.…”

“…The statement was released because a growing body of literature was suggesting that White participants were more likely than minority participants to have favorable outcomes related to graduation and not recidivating (Brewster, 2001;Dannerbeck et al, 2006;Krebs, Lindquist, Koetse, & Lattimore, 2007). A noticeable finding from this study is that racial disparities did not exist in graduation outcomes, which is consistent with the findings from Hohman et al (2000).…”

“…Identifying cocaine as a drug of choice, however, did emerge as a statistically significant predictor for being terminated from drug court, which is consistent with the studies by Dannerbeck et al (2006) and Hickert et al (2009), but contradicts Shaffer et al (2010 who found that drug of choice had no impact on graduation or recidivism patterns. This study also found that compliance with drug court requirements, such as attending court hearings and submitting negative drug tests, within the first 30 days is a strong predictor of completion outcomes.…”

“…found the most predictive variables for graduation were being employed or being a student at the time of admission, having fewer positive drug tests, and being White. Dannerbeck, Harris, Sundet, and Lloyd (2006) also noted racial disparities in drug court outcomes. They reported that 55% of White participants compared to 28% of African Americans graduated from the drug court program; a possible explanation for why African Americans were least likely to graduate the drug court was that they were more likely than White participants to identify cocaine as their drug of choice (Dannerbeck et al, 2006).…”

“…Dannerbeck, Harris, Sundet, and Lloyd (2006) also noted racial disparities in drug court outcomes. They reported that 55% of White participants compared to 28% of African Americans graduated from the drug court program; a possible explanation for why African Americans were least likely to graduate the drug court was that they were more likely than White participants to identify cocaine as their drug of choice (Dannerbeck et al, 2006). The study also found that being employed at entry into drug court was a predictor for successful graduation.…”