RD403 - Virginia’s Drug Treatment Courts 2011 Annual Report


Executive Summary:
This report reviews the basic operations and outcomes of Virginia’s drug treatment courts in fiscal year 2011. Information is provided in the report on program participants including demographics, program entry offenses, program length, and re-arrest after program completion or termination. The report is based on 1) data from the drug court database established and maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES); 2) arrest data from the Virginia State Police; 3) arrest data from the Virginia State Police obtained by the Department of Juvenile Justice for juvenile drug court participants; 4) and demographic DUI drug court data migrated from VASAP’s database to the Drug Court Database for the Fredericksburg Regional DUI Drug Treatment Court and the Waynesboro Area DUI Drug Treatment Court programs; and 5) re-arrest results from 2010 data provided by the Fredericksburg Regional DUI Drug Treatment Court. Details are provided separately for adult and juvenile drug treatment court programs. Analyses provided in this report are based on data entered for participants in Virginia’s drug treatment courts who entered a program after January 1, 2007, and either graduated or were terminated from a program between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2011.

In fiscal year 2011, there were 30 operational drug treatment court programs in Virginia: 16 adult, 9 juvenile, 3 family, and 2 DUI Drug Treatment Courts. The Fairfax County juvenile drug court closed in April 2011 due to lack of funding and resources. The Alexandria Family Drug Court stopped accepting participants as part of their reorganization and staff turnover and have not yet resumed accepting participants.

The goals of Virginia drug treatment courts are:

1. to reduce drug addiction and drug dependency among offenders;
2. to reduce recidivism;
3. to reduce drug-related court workloads;
4. to increase personal, familial and societal accountability among offenders; and,
5. to promote effective planning and use of resources among the criminal justice system and community agencies.

Administration of Drug Treatment Courts in Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia facilitates the development, implementation and monitoring of local adult, juvenile, family, and driving under the influence (DUI) drug treatment courts through the Drug Treatment Court Division in the Department of Judicial Services of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). The State Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee, established pursuant to statute, offers recommendations to the Chief Justice for the establishment of new programs, recognition and funding for drug treatment courts, best practices based on research, and minimum standards for program operation.

Funding for Drug Treatment Courts

Since 2005, the fourteen (14) original drug treatment courts operate through state funding after their federal funding grants expired. Ten adult and 4 juvenile drug treatment courts are included in this funding. The remaining programs are funded through local funds; augmented in a few cases by federal grant funds and other resources. The two DUI drug courts operated by the local Alcohol Safety Action Program are funded through the use offender paid fees.

Drug treatment courts receiving state funds administered through the Supreme Court of Virginia use the funds primarily for drug court personnel. Treatment services for drug court participants are generally provided through the public substance abuse treatment system also known as the Virginia Community Services Boards (CSBs). Through a memorandum of agreement with their local CSB for needed treatment services agreed upon financial and/or clinical personnel arrangements are provided.

Summary of 2011 Drug Treatment Court Program Activity

Summaries of the major measures of program activity for adult and juvenile drug treatment court programs, as well specific demographic information for the DUI drug treatment courts are presented in Executive Summary (Tables 1 and 2; page vii). A more detailed review of these measures can be found in Chapter One while separate reviews of program activity and outcomes are set forth for each model in succeeding chapters.

Summary of 2011 Drug Treatment Court Program Activity

Summaries of the major measures of program activity for adult, juvenile, and family drug treatment court programs (DTC), as well as the DUI DTC, are presented in Executive Summary Tables 1 and 2 on page vii. A more detailed review of these measures can be found in Chapter One while separate reviews of program activity and outcomes are set forth for each model in succeeding chapters.

Fiscal Year 2011 Summary Measures

Referrals. Referrals to adult, juvenile, and family drug treatment courts totaled 786 an increase of 13.1% over 2010. DUI Drug Courts received 668 referrals.

New Admissions. New admissions totaled 523 to adult, juvenile, and family drug courts.

Active Participants. In 2011, there were 1,132 active participants in the adult, juvenile, and family drug courts while the number of active participants in the DUI drug courts was 622.

Graduates. The number of individuals who successfully completed an adult, juvenile, or family drug treatment court program in 2011 totaled 234 for an overall graduation rate of 50.9%. The graduation rate for the DUI drug courts was 66.0%.

Terminations. There were 226 persons terminated from an adult, juvenile, or family drug treatment court during the year, a termination rate of 49.1%. The DUI drug courts reported a termination rate of 34.0%. Terminations constitute unsuccessful program completion.

Re-arrests. In 2011, the re-arrest rate was 12.2% for adult and juvenile drug treatment courts.

A more reliable examination of re-arrest rates requires looking at 2008 and 2010 departures. In 2008, the overall re-arrest rate for those departing adult and juvenile programs was 45.3%, 12.0% for graduates compared to 52.6% for those terminated. In 2010, 24.1% of graduates were re-arrested compared to 33.5% for those terminated, an overall rate of 29.1%.