Maine Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Drug abuse
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Courts of justice
Country of application
United States
Description

This program is aimed at treating adolescents in conflict with the law and with problems associated with drug abuse, which also serves their families.
The service included the following phases:
1) Assessment and planning;
2) Support and training in new skills;
3) Capacity-building and consolidation of support; and
4) Follow-up.
To advance to the next phase, participants must abstain from drug and alcohol abuse, which must be proven through a series of tests, participate in substance use treatment sessions, and refrain from committing new offenses. Monitoring takes place over 40 weeks, and supervision of the services offered is carried out by the drug courts.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that, during the 12-month follow-up period, program participants were 1.8 times less likely to relapse, but there was a low effect on criminal recidivism [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Anspach, D. F., & Ferguson, A. S. (2005). Part II: Outcome evaluation of Maine’s statewide juvenile drug treatment court program. Augusta, Me.: University of Southern Maine. Retrieved from http://www. maine. gov/dhhs/samhs/osa/pubs/correct/2005/jdtcoutcom eeval. pdf.

Information source