Juvenile Drug Court Research Articles

Resolving the paradox of juvenile drug courts: How matching substance abuse needs with juvenile court services reduces recidivism

Resolving the paradox of juvenile drug courts: How matching substance abuse needs with juvenile court services reduces recidivism

A Comparison of Re-arrest Outcomes Between Youth in Juvenile Drug Court, Teen Court, Probation, and Dismissed Cases

This study identified populations served by diversion and explored potential effects of diversion by comparing re-arrest among diverted youth, youth on probation, and youth whose case were dismissed using a large sample of low-risk youth in Florida. Using propensity score estimation, results found youth who participated in teen court or drug court or who were on probation were more likely to be re-arrested within 1 year compared to youth whose case was dismissed. Juvenile drug court participants were more likely to be re-arrested than teen court participants. Youth on probation were more likely to be re-arrested compared to teen court participants, but there was no significant difference in re-arrest between youth on probation and juvenile drug court participants.

Corrigendum

Juvenile and Family Court JournalVolume 71, Issue 4 p. 71-71 CorrigendumFree Access Corrigendum This article corrects the following: Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: Policy And Practice Scan Kyungseok Choo, Anthony Petrosino, Hannah Sutherland, Trevor Fronius, Sarah Guckenburg, Jacquelyn Tran, Kevin Earl, Volume 71Issue 3Juvenile and Family Court Journal pages: 5-27 First Published online: September 28, 2020 First published: 29 December 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12189AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat In the article by Anthony Petrosino al., the funding information “Acknowledgment: This project was supported by Grant # 2014-DC-BX-K001 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, now managed by the National Institute of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice. We are very grateful to the local coordinators and other juvenile drug court staff who took time to participate in interviews and provided helpful documents. We also thank Jennifer Tyler, Roger Jarjoura, Patricia Campie, and the Journal's anonymous peer reviewers for their comments.” was missing in the article. We apologize for this error. Reference Choo, K., Petrosino, A., Sutherland, H., et al. (2020). Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: Policy And Practice Scan. Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 71, 5– 27. Volume71, Issue4December 2020Pages 71-71 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Sustained Outcomes? an Exploratory Study of Juvenile Drug Courts and Long‐Term Recidivism

AbstractThis exploratory study examined juvenile drug courts’ effect on adulthood recidivism. Utilizing a twelve‐year average follow up time, adult recidivism rates were compared between previous juvenile drug court participants and a comparison group of juveniles who participated in traditional probation. Linear regression models indicated limited recidivism effects of drug court on arrests or convictions into adulthood. The findings suggest that gender and race may play a role in how justice‐involved juveniles interact and experience juvenile drug court, highlighting the need for gender‐responsive and culturally responsive policies, practices, and programs within juvenile drug courts. Recommendations are made regarding future research areas and ways to potentially improve long‐term juvenile drug court outcomes.

Assessing the impact of drug courts on provider-directed marketing efforts by manufactures of medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder

BackgroundOpioid use disorder (OUD) has become an increasingly consequential public health concern, especially in the United States where 47,600 opioid overdose deaths occurred in 2017 (Scholl, Seth, Kariisa, Wilson, & Baldwin, 2019). Medications for OUD (MOUD) are effective for decreasing opioid-related morbidity and mortality, including within the criminal justice system (Hedrich et al., 2012; Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives, 2019; Moore et al., 2019).While a stronger evidence base exists for agonist MOUD than for antagonist MOUD, a national study of drug courts found that half prohibited agonist MOUD (Matusow et al., 2013).Furthermore, recent media reports suggest that the pharmaceutical manufacturer of an antagonist MOUD has marketed its product towards drug court judges (Goodnough & Zernike, 2017; Harper, 2017). However, no study to date has systematically examined the relationship between MOUD marketing practices and drug courts. This ecological study examines the association at the county level between MOUD manufacturer payments to prescribers and drug court locations. MethodWe extracted provider-directed payments from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)'s Sunshine Act Open Payments data 2014–2017, isolating those records mentioning any MOUD. We compared provider-directed payments for two major MOUDs: buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone, in counties with and without drug courts. ResultsThe presence of any adult drug courts in the county is associated with a 7.86 percentage-point increase in the likelihood of providers in that county receiving any MOUD-related payments (about 22.46% of the sample mean, p<0.001) and with a 10.70% increase in the amount of these payments per 1000 county residents (p<0.001). The association between other forms of drug courts such as juvenile drug courts and Driving-Under-the-Influence courts (DUI) courts are less significant and slightly smaller in magnitude compared to those of adult drug courts. We did not find significant difference between payments by the manufacturer of Vivitrol and manufacturers of Zubsolv, Bunavail, and Suboxone (oral forms of buprenorphine). ConclusionsOur results show an ecological association at the county level between MOUD manufacturer payments to prescribers and drug court presence. However, we did not examine a causal association between these variables.

Impact of Emotional Distress on Prescription Opioid Abuse in a Rural Juvenile Drug Court Sample

Background: Ohio is at the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, and the current crisis disproportionately burdens rural areas. The Self-Medication Hypothesis and work examining adverse childhood experiences posit that drug use may be understood as a coping strategy to address emotional distress.Methods: Juvenile drug court participants in a Northwest Ohio county were administered a standardized biopsychosocial assessment. Intake interviews from January 2010 and November 2018 were used to evaluate the relationship between emotional distress reported using the Emotional Problem Scale (EPS) and lifetime nonmedical use of prescription opioids. Linear regression was used to examine temporal trends in EPS scores. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between EPS scores and prescription opioid misuse, controlling for temporal trends.Results: Linear regression showed a significant increase in emotional distress over the study period for both pre-scription opioid users and nonusers. Average scores increased 29.5 points (on a 100 point scale) over the duration of the study (P &lt;0.0001). A 10-point increase in EPS score was associated with a nearly 50% increase in the lifetime odds of pre-scription opioid misuse (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.19-1.82, P = 0.0004). The odds of prescription opioid misuse declined each year (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48-0.81, P = 0.0006).Conclusion: Rates of prescription opioid misuse have decreased over time despite a significant association be-tween emotional distress and opioid misuse and trend toward increasing EPS scores. While efforts to reduce prescription opioid misuse appear to have been effective in this population, significant work is needed to reduce underlying risk fac-tors.

Outcomes of a Mentoring Program Based on Occupational Adaptation for Participants in a Juvenile Drug Court Program

This case-based study describes an occupational adaptation– based mentoring program and outcomes for six adolescents involved in a juvenile drug court. The Occupational Adaptation Practice Guide provided structure for goal setting, and outcomes were measured using the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale. Occupational therapy service-learning students assisted in program administration by creating individual and group activities related to participants’ goals. Positive changes in relative mastery were associated with good attendance, specificity of goals, and a detailed plan for occupational responses. This research demonstrates the application of a theory-driven program for an emerging practice setting with an underserved population of court-involved participants.

Validating Drug Court Collaboration Instrument: Differences in Model Adherence Between Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts

Drug courts aim to significantly address drug abuse and drug-related criminality. However, the effectiveness of drug courts varies from court to court. The variation of success demands insights regarding what is going on inside the "black box" of drug court practices. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate to what extent drug courts are operated in adherence with guiding principles and strategies. Using a national sample and validated measures, the current article examines the "black boxes" of adult and juvenile drug courts across the country. We found that, in general, adult drug courts face less model adherence challenges in comparison with juvenile courts, which may, in part, explain why adult drug courts perform better than juvenile drug courts overall.

Justice involvement and girls' sexual health: Directions for policy and practice

Arrested girls in the United States (US) are often diverted from detention through referrals to juvenile specialty courts (e.g., juvenile drug court), community-based diversion programs, or pre-adjudicated probation services. Limited research suggests that sexual and reproductive health needs for diverted, or court-involved, non-incarcerated (CINI) girls are similar to that of their detained counterparts. Despite the US justice system's emphasis on diverting youth from detention, research and programmatic efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes has primarily focused on detained girls. Policy and programming for CINI girls is scant and thus warrants further attention. This report details the immediate sexual and reproductive health needs of CINI girls. We discuss implications of current health care policies and practices for this population and conclude with recommendations for research focused on improving access to sexual and reproductive health care.

Factors promoting and impeding HIV testing among adolescents in juvenile drug court

ABSTRACTA randomized pilot study compared Risk Reduction Therapy for Adolescents (RRTA) to treatment as usual (TAU); the present study examined whether intervention condition influenced HIV testing, barriers to HIV testing, and HIV communication among adolescents involved in juvenile drug courts overall and by sexual experience. Of 105 participants, 13.3% had HIV pre-treatment testing, whereas 27.2% (of 92 participants) indicated follow-up HIV testing. Sexually active youth in RRTA (but not in TAU) reported a significant increase in HIV testing over time. RRTA demonstrated the greatest increase in HIV testing (8% pre-treatment to 44% follow-up), but not significantly more than TAU. Prevalence of barriers to HIV testing were observed at consistent rates among adolescents who did not get tested for HIV within either treatment condition. Adolescents in both conditions reported increased communication about HIV at follow-up. HIV testing was positively associated with perceived need for testing and testing resource accessibility. Stigma remained a barrier to testing at follow-up for RRTA (22%) and TAU (21%) participants. The RRTA intervention increased HIV testing and both interventions increased adolescents’ communication about HIV; however, barriers persisted, warranting treatment modification.

Economic Evaluation of the Juvenile Drug Court/Reclaiming Futures (JDC/RF) Model.

Juvenile drug court (JDC) programs are an increasingly popular option for rehabilitating juvenile offenders with substance problems, but research has found inconsistent evidence regarding their effectiveness and economic impact. While assessing client outcomes such as reduced substance use and delinquency is necessary to gauge program effectiveness, a more comprehensive understanding of program success and sustainability can be attained by examining program costs and economic benefits. As part of the National Cross-Site Evaluation of JDC and Reclaiming Futures (RF), an economic analysis of five JDC/RF programs was conducted from a multisystem and multiagency perspective. The study highlights the direct and indirect costs of JDC/RF and the savings generated from reduced health problems, illegal activity, and missed school days. Results include the average (per participant) cost of JDC/RF, the total economic benefits per JDC/RF participant, and the net savings of JDC/RF relative to standard JDC.

Association of Mental Health Symptoms and Peer Behaviors with Risk for Substance Use and Condomless Sex Among Youths in Juvenile Drug Court

ABSTRACTJuvenile drug courts (JDCs) are a growing response to adolescent substance use, but better understanding of modifiable risk factors is needed to improve JDC outcomes. JDCs also serve dual public health and justice functions, heightening potential impact on co-occurring health factors like risky sex. However, mental health symptoms and peers’ activities may impede JDC effectiveness. In a unique longitudinal sample of 105 adolescents involved in JDCs, we find elevated internalizing symptoms and deviant peer behavior were each associated with increased substance use, with similar effects on risk for condomless sex. Findings inform intervention targets that could maximize JDC programming impact.

Mental health screening instrument domain scores as predictors of recidivism in juvenile probation and drug court populations

ABSTRACTFor juvenile offenders with an identified substance abuse history, the need for early intervention and screening is increasingly critical. This study investigated the use of MAYSI-2 and POSIT standardized screening measures to better understand if the domains measured by these tools could predict recidivism in a juvenile drug court (JDC) population. Findings indicated that none of the domain scores analyzed were predictive of recidivism scores in neither the juvenile probation, nor drug court adolescents. These outcomes suggest that for the juvenile population, these screening tools may be effective measures of potential mental health risks, but poor measures of recidivism.

Parent and Youth Engagement in Court-Mandated Substance Use Disorder Treatment

ABSTRACTWhile juvenile drug courts (JDCs) require treatment participation, youth and parent engagement in treatment cannot be mandated. We compared youths' and parents' self-reports of engagement in Risk Reduction Therapy for Adolescents (RRTA) and Treatment as Usual (TAU) in JDCs. Parents and youths receiving RRTA were more likely than those receiving TAU to report high engagement in treatment. High parent engagement in RRTA early in treatment predicted fewer missed appointments and lower youth substance use at three months. Emphasizing therapeutic techniques that increase parent engagement, as utilized in RRTA, could lead to improved participation and clinical outcomes in court-mandated treatment settings.

Outcomes of a family-based HIV prevention intervention for substance using juvenile offenders

Approximately 80% of all arrested youth are diverted from detention and supervised in the community through probation, specialty courts and other community-based diversion efforts. Justice-involved youth have greater psychiatric impairment, substance use and sexual risk behaviors than their non-justice-involved peers. Family-based interventions to address mental health, substance use and recidivism have been successful in improving these youth outcomes; but the lack of integration of HIV/STI prevention is notable given the co-occurrence of substance use, delinquency and sexual risk-taking behaviors among justice-involved youth. Moreover, emotion dysregulation may be an important and understudied underlying construct of these co-occurring risk behaviors for justice-involved youth. Study participants were 47 caregiver-youth dyads enrolled in a juvenile drug court program. As part of a pilot efficacy trial, dyads were randomized to a 5-session family-based integrated substance use and HIV/STI prevention intervention that relied on affect management strategies for risk reduction or an adolescent-only psychoeducation condition matched for time and attention. Data collected at baseline and 3months post-intervention suggest that a family-based integrated affect management substance use and HIV prevention pilot intervention may lead to justice-involved youths' enhanced motivation to change their marijuana use, decreased marijuana use and decreased risky sexual behavior over time. Future research is required to replicate these pilot trial findings and should also examine family-level mediators and moderators of treatment response, particularly with respect to HIV prevention efforts for these youth.

Professionals' perceptions of and recommendations for matching juvenile drug court clients to services

Current practice in juvenile drug courts is to implement approaches and models that focus on identifying and meeting the needs of the youth through service-matching—such as the Juvenile Drug Court: Strategies In Practice (National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2014) and Reclaiming Futures (http://reclaimingfutures.org/), which when combined are JDC/RF programs—to increase effectiveness and produce better outcomes for the youth they serve. This study examined juvenile drug court representatives' reflections on the ability of juvenile drug courts that are implementing JDC/RF programs to match youth with services and the procedures used to do so. Overall, three major cross-JDC/RF site themes related to service-matching emerged from the data: a) Collaboration; b) Engaging Families; and c) Recommendations to Improve Service-Matching. On the whole, JDC/RF staff noted successes in collaborating within the juvenile drug court system and within the community, and in engaging families that facilitated and supported matching youth to services. They also saw opportunities for and noted multiple recommendations, many of which they were in the process of enacting, for continued growth and improvement in the area of matching youth to services. These results suggest that juvenile drug court teams perceived that they can surmount the barriers and challenges of matching youth to services; that adequate and appropriate staffing of juvenile drug courts is critical to effective service-matching; that juvenile drug courts needed to have formalized effective communication systems in place to facilitate and support a system of care focused on service-matching; and that successfully implementing JDC/RF and creating a system that supports service-matching requires juvenile drug courts to balance interagency collaboration and client confidentiality.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Juvenile Drug Court: Comparisons to Traditional Probation

AbstractJuvenile Drug Courts have been in operation in the United States for over 20 years, yet their effectiveness and design have been challenged throughout the literature. Using data collected from a Juvenile Drug Court (JDC) in Southeast Texas, this project sought to determine if the JDC intervention reduced recidivism compared to a comparison sample of juvenile offenders. Results indicate that the recidivism rates of participants in the JDC were lower than the comparison group, suggesting that the Drug Court intervention was successful. The program completion rates for JDC youths were also higher for those with fewer infractions. Although the JDC youths had statistically lower infractions, the intervention overall appears to need strengthening. A close inspection of program components could document which programmatic skills are tied to efficacy, leading to the achievement of better outcomes.

Juvenile drug court effects on recidivism and drug use: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of juvenile drug courts on general recidivism, drug recidivism, and drug use, and to explore variability in effects across characteristics of the drug courts and juvenile participants.

First Evaluation of a Contingency Management Intervention Addressing Adolescent Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors: Risk Reduction Therapy for Adolescents

There is a need for interventions that comprehensively address youth substance use disorders (SUD) and sexual risk behaviors. Risk Reduction Therapy for Adolescents (RRTA) adapts a validated family-focused intervention for youth SUD to include sexual risk reduction components in a single intervention. In this first evaluation of RRTA, drug court involved youth were randomly assigned to RRTA (N=45) or usual services (US; N=60) and followed through 12-months post-baseline. RRTA included weekly cognitive behavior therapy and behavior management training and contingency-contracting with a point earning system managed by caregivers targeting drug use and sexual risk antecedents. Longitudinal models estimated within-group change and between-group differences through 6- and 12-month follow-up on outcomes for substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and protective HIV behaviors. Robust effects of the intervention were not detected under conditions of the study that included potent background interventions by the juvenile drug court. Considerations about future development and testing of sexual risk reduction therapy for youth are discussed, including the potential role of contingency management in future interventions.

Predictors of program failure in a juvenile drug court program

Predictors of program failure in a juvenile drug court program