|
Article
National Institute of Justice --
Research Review
Evaluation of the Breaking the Cycle Demonstration in Birmingham, AL
An evaluation of the first site for Breaking the Cycle (BTC), and early intervention drug treatment program, has shown preliminary success. Developed as a method to reduce the high crime and drug use rate among felony defendants, BTC combines case management, drug testing, sanctions, and treatment. The evaluation compared drug use and crime among felony defendants enrolled in BTC to defendants not offered these services.
Results revealed consistent indication of reductions in criminal activity and drug use among drug-involved defendants, although less indication of declines in drug related problems, such a physical and mental health problems. Regardless of the offense, BTC clients were less likely than comparison group to be arrested in the year after sample entry.
Researchers cautioned that though promising, the findings are preliminary, based on only one site, and may have been affected by model diversion problems. Text can be found at:
http://www.ncjrs.org/rr/vol3_1/1.html.
|
