Drug courts have become an alternative to incarceration for drug offenders. Intense supervision along with treatment programs have helped reduce the number of repeat offenders who have graduated from drug court. This study examines the Iron County Drug Court's effect on technical violations and recidivism on its participants. Thirty-five participants were followed over a two and a half year period and data was collected for technical violations and recidivism. A group of comparable offenders were taken from the Houghton County Probation Department. Both groups were compared on technical violations and recidivism over that period.
The results showed that drug court offenders incurred more technical violations than the district court probationers, but recidivated less than the probationers. The study also showed that the type of criminal histories and current charges that offenders have influence how well they do while in each program. Offenders in the drug court with violent backgrounds had more technical violations and rearrests, while offenders in district court probation with property crime backgrounds had more technical violations and rearrests.
