Divining Drug Court Success: Characteristics Predicting Graduation and Recidivism Across 34 Statewide Adult Drug Courts

Abstract

Limitations from prior research on predictors of adult drug court graduation outcomes were addressed by examining the largest sample to-date of 3,062 participants from 34 rural and urban drug courts. Fifty-two percent of the participants successfully completed drug court. Two-year recidivism for the drug court graduates was low (16%). Graduates were more likely to be female, Caucasian, an older age, employed, have received at least a high-school education, to have a marital relationship, to not have engaged in suicidal behaviors, and to have primarily used marijuana instead of methamphetamine or opiates. No difference emerged among predictors in rural versus urban settings. In this unique study with a large sample and a multi-year recidivism period, graduates who recidivated were more likely to be younger, and to not have a driver’s license. Implications for tailoring of drug court treatment and case management plans are discussed.