Public Support for Drug Courts: Beyond a Second Chance

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This study is the first to assess public support for drug courts as a “third chance,” referring to an additional opportunity, beyond the initial and second chances, to receive rehabilitative support. We first used a survey experiment to investigate how offense characteristics and criminal records affected people’s initial support for drug courts. We then examined whether support persisted after the initial treatment had failed. Results showed strong initial public support for drug courts, with offense nature and criminal history significantly affecting this support. People also expressed subsequent support for drug courts after the initial attempt had failed. Finally, we found the effects of failure-related information were asymmetrical. Our results indicate that people were open-minded and supportive about granting people involved in drug offenses a second chance, and even a third, chance. Yet making people less punitive proved more challenging than driving them toward more punitive stances.