Appreciative Inquiry with African American Participants in Drug Court

• In Event: Impact of Race and Gender on Criminal Justice Outcomes

Abstract

The success rates of African American women in drug court is lower than that of other participants, despite their over representation in the crj system. This study is significant as it from a bottom-up perspective aims at a culturally sensitive and positive approach through appreciative inquiry to enhance drug court and community strengths that help these women, rather than adopt psychological and sociological pathological models to explain failure rates. This study examines the obstacles black women face in drug court and what are the strengths of the drug court and the wider social system of black women that can help them significantly improve psychological, cognitive, and emotional functioning. The process itself of invoking these women as honorary co-researchers helps in the process of discovery. The content analysis of semi-structured interviews with 14 women who have participated in drug courts in Virginia's Hampton Roads focuses on the relationship between the participants and the judge, weaknesses of the drug court team and treatment providers as well as effective drug court team and treatment protocols, stigma associated with being in drug court, and how to incorporate family and community to make drug courts more culturally competent and effective for African American participants.

Authors

• Bernadette J. Holmes, Norfolk State University

• Shelby McClamy, Norfolk State University

• Michael L. Fischer, Norfolk State University

• Brenda Geiger, Bar Ilan University

• Doris Edmonds, Norfolk State University