Axis
Criminal Justice
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Drug abuse

Effectiveness

Mixed Evidence

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Mixed Evidence

¿Quieres saber más acerca de esta clasificación? Consulte nuestro manual metodológico.

Description

Redirection programs based on community-based interventions aim to divert offenders who use Class A drugs (crack, ecstasy, heroin, LSD) from the criminal justice system by suspending the prosecution process in exchange for the (voluntary or mandatory) participation of said individuals in substance abuse treatment programs.
These interventions are based on the interpretation that the crimes committed by those individuals are, to a large extent, conditioned by their search for funds to finance their drug abuse. Therefore, the main objective of these programs, in addition to reducing dependence and consumption of those substances, is to prevent recidivism into drug-related criminal activities.

Country of application
  • United States
Evidence

A systematic review with a meta-analysis indicates a reduction in the use of Class A drugs as a result of redirection to community institutions, as well as a reduction in the use of other drugs. Also, evidence was found that users of Class A drugs were less likely to complete treatment than users of other drugs [1].
At the moment, there is no conclusive evidence of an impact on recidivism reduction. Although some individual studies reveal a modest effect of remission on delinquency, the lack of comparability of outcome measures, heterogeneity, low methodological quality, and paucity of data limit the available evidence, so that the evidence for this outcome variable is uncertain.

Bibliography

[1] Hayhurst, K. P., Leitner, M., Davies, L., Millar, T., Jones, A., Flentje, R., ... & Shaw, J. (2019). The effectiveness of diversion programmes for offenders using Class A drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 26(2), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2017.1398715

Information Source

Evaluated cases

Multnomah County (Ore.) Sanction Treatment Opportunity Progress (STOP) Drug Diversion Program

Axis: Criminal Justice
Type: Redirection of Hard Drug Abuse Offenders
Effectiveness:

Effective

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Effective
Problem type:
Recidivism, Drug trafficking, Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Country:
United States
Open

Lifestyle Change Program

Axis: Criminal Justice
Type: Redirection of Hard Drug Abuse Offenders
Effectiveness:

Promising

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Promising
Problem type:
Recidivism, Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Country:
United States
Open

Washington State's Residential Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative

Axis: Criminal Justice
Type: Redirection of Hard Drug Abuse Offenders
Effectiveness:

Promising

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Promising
Problem type:
Drug abuse
Country:
United States
Open

Why might the cases evaluated have different levels of effectiveness in relation to their respective type of solution?
Click here to understand why.

Some cases were not included in the evidence bank due to deficiencies detected in the methodology of their impact evaluations.
Click here to see the list

 

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