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Tuesday August 14, 2:45 pm ET

Study examines the impact of a single drug court on the total population of drug court-eligible offenders over a 10-year period in Portland, Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), the principal advocacy organization for 20,000 drug court practitioners nationwide, supports the findings of NPC Research, funded under a grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), U.S. Department of Justice, drawn from a comprehensive ten year drug court study. The “Multnomah County Drug Court” in Portland, Oregon, is the second oldest in the United States. The study titled The Impact of a Mature Drug Court over 10 Years of Operation: Recidivism and Costs shows significantly reduced recidivism for drug court participants up to 14 years after drug court entry and major cost savings to tax payers.Research Results:

    -- The drug court significantly reduced the incidence and        frequency of criminal recidivism for participants compared to        offenders who did not participate.              -- The incidence of re-arrest was reduced by nearly 30%                after five years.      -- Investment costs in the drug court program were $1,392 less per        person than the investment costs of court "business-as-usual."              -- Savings due to reduced recidivism for drug court                participants totaled more than $79 million over the                10-year period.      -- Drug court judges that worked longer with the drug court had        better participant outcomes. Judges that rotated through the        drug court twice had better participant outcomes the second        time than the first.      This study covers the period from program start in 1991 through     2001. The entire population of offenders identified as eligible     for drug court by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office     from 1991 to 2001 was tracked through a variety of administrative     data systems. Approximately 11,000 cases were identified; 6,500     participated in the drug court program during that period and     4,600 had their case processed outside the drug court model. Data     on outcomes were gathered on each offender, with a particular     emphasis on criminal recidivism per participant. The outcome data     were drawn in late 2005 and early 2006, allowing a minimum of 5     years of follow-up on all cohorts and more than 10 years on many     cohorts. Data on costs were calculated in terms of investment     costs, outcome costs over 5 years, and total costs.

“This study validates the long-term effectiveness of drug courts through reduced drug use and criminal recidivism as well as cost savings to the community,” said West Huddleston, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). “Simply put, drug courts save lives, reduce crime and save tax payers money. The Multnomah County Drug Court has demonstrated once again that drug court is the best solution for addicted citizens caught in the justice system. Drug courts must be taken to scale; ensuring all addicted offenders in every county in America receives the best chance of a drug and crime-free future.”

About NADCP

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) are responsible for advocacy, training, research and scholarship on behalf of drug courts nationwide. With more than 1,900 drug courts nationwide, and 500 more in planning stages, drug courts have experienced phenomenal success and tremendous growth by reducing substance abuse, crime and recidivism. Since 1994, NADCP has represented over 20,000 judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers and rehabilitation experts, law enforcement and corrections personnel, educators, researchers and community leaders.

For more information, visit www.nadcp.org.

Contact:

NADCP Jennifer Columbel, 703-575-9400, ext 14 cell: 703-731-0966

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