Treating the tough cases in juvenile drug court

In this study, the study population examined are juveniles who are terminated and those who graduated from drug courts. Researchers only looked at those that were Caucasian. The study was based only on male juveniles. Among this ethnicity, data looked at and included demographic measurements, past deviant behavior, and the juveniles experience within the drug court program. In this study, the 73 youths that successfully completed the program are compared to the 76 who are unsuccessful. Data collected on the subjects were demographics measurements, variables measuring deviant behavior, and the juvenile’s experiences in drug court. Researchers also collected measurements of recidivism. “ These measurements pertained to youth that was remitted back to juvenile courts and juveniles who were subjected to new adjudications upon release from the program.” This result was obtained through logistic regression. Through demographic measurements only, the author found that through the logistic regression of predicted termination from juvenile drug court was 57. 8% of the cases. Through measuring deviant behavior history and demographics, the logistic regression predicting termination from juvenile drug court was correct 60. 7% of the sample. Through the last logistic regression of predicting termination from juvenile drug court using demographics, deviant behavior data, and information on program experience, these data were 90. 4% of the youth that had drug court experience was terminated.

The next series of analysis predicted using new adjudication. Moreover, through demographic data, the author found that through the logistic regression of new referrals after drug court was 80. 5% correct. Through adding deviant behavior history, the logistic regression of new referrals after drug court was 84. 7% correct. Finally, the logistic regression predicting new referrals after drug court were 86. 4% using demographic, deviant behavior data and information on program experiences were referred back to the program after they was released. After being referred back to the program 88. 1% of youth were terminated.

Through demographic measurements, researchers also found that through logistic regression of new adjudications after drug court was 72% correct. Through measuring deviant behavior history, the logistic regression of new adjudication after drug court was 76. 3% correct. Through the logistic regression on new adjudications after drug court, using demographics, deviant history, and program experiences, the data correctly predicted that 82. 2% of youths received new adjudications while released. In summary, the analysis found that the more data that were used, the greater its ability to predict whether a person completed or were terminated from drug court. Older individuals and those with less previous warrants were more likely to graduate. Also the number of sanctions received while in drug court was positively related to termination.

There are a couple limitations of the data. One limitation of the data was that, there was only one ethnicity used. Another limitation of the data is that researchers only measured the data from one area which was the southwestern community. Also, there was no control or comparison group of non-drug court clients. Lastly, recidivism only uses official data, it does not address crimes for which they were not caught.