In 1992 an experimental program of drug testing and alternative interventions was implemented in the Maricopa County, AZ, Adult Probation Department. The goal of the experiment was to determine the effects on the subsequent drug use and criminal behavior of adult probationers convicted of drug possession. The four experimental conditions that were compared included: no drug testing; monthly random drug testing; biweekly scheduled drug testing; and treatment drug court, involving integrated drug testing, treatment, and sanctions. The study disclosed, among other things, that: (1) drug court participants were less likely to fulfill conditions of probation, such as community service and payment of fees; (2) neither different levels of testing nor drug court participation had any impact on recidivism; (3) estimated costs for drug court participants were slightly lower than costs for standard probation, given that the majority of drug court participants spent less time on probation. These findings suggest that increasing levels of drug testing provides a quick measure of substance use and increases technical violations, and the drug court program has been successful in providing treatment for drug offenders, but has had little impact on officially recorded recidivism. Tables, figures, footnotes, appendixes, bibliography
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