“They read books, they never lived this life”: Barriers to Drug and Re-Entry Court Program Completion

• In Event: Getting Out of Court: Specialty Courts and Diversion

Abstract

Purpose of Study: Problem-solving courts have been an important policy response to calls for court reform. These courts often emphasize accountability and rehabilitation, while also offering an opportunity for offenders to be diverted away from the justice system. While these programs have proliferated across jurisdictions, many programs require evaluations of the services provided. The current study explores barriers to program completion from a mixed methods approach.

Research Design: Data for this project were derived from two problem-solving court programs administered in a large midwestern county in the United States. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed to 1) assess the experiences of justice-involved persons enrolled in the program, and 2) examine perceived barriers to program completion by program staff, administrators, and participants.

Findings: Program staff and participants underscore the importance of stability as an important determinant of success. Respondents emphasized employment, housing, food, and transportation as potential barriers to completion. The failure to meet these needs often prevents participants from excelling in the program and recovery.

Summary of Conclusion: Our findings highlight the internal and external factors that limit successful completion of problem-solving court programs.

Authors

• Hannah Ridner, Indiana University

• Dylan Stoltz, Indiana University

• Tri Keah Henry, Indiana University