Drug Offenders and the Courts: Summary of a National Assessment

Responses came from 88 percent of the jurisdictions. Results revealed that although resources to address drug- related crime have increased substantially since 1989, felony court systems are still having great difficulty coping with criminal cases involving drugs. Clearly, criminal justice policymakers must focus on balancing various systems; otherwise, many police efforts at the front end of the process are likely to represent wasted time. Results also revealed that the location of a felony court system strongly influenced sentencing practices. Felony court systems serving rural areas and courts in the south tended to produce more severe sentences than in other regions. Findings indicated an urgent need to improve the pretrial and posttrial supervision and monitoring of persons charged with drug-related crimes but not incarcerated. More effective treatment services are also needed. Innovative processes such as drug courts and improved pretrial and postconviction risk assessment efforts are tools with the potential to help address these needs. Better judicial education on addiction and treatment and further court research are also recommended. Without such measures and better balancing of resources, the overall effectiveness of the national war on drugs will fall short of its potential. Table, figure, and biographies of the principal investigators