Kalamazoo Drug Court

 

WEB SITE:  www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/justice/kal.htm

 

        The primary goal of this program is to divert nonviolent felons, with substance abuse problems, from incarceration in jail and/or prison.  Upon successful completion of treatment and other program components and remaining drug and arrest free for one year, participants have an opportunity to have pending charges dismissed.  This comprehensive program includes substance abuse treatment, biweekly court sessions, random urinalysis samples, and reporting to SADP staff.  Other elements are provided by community agencies such as Family Independence Agency, Housing Resources, Maternal Support Services, the YWCA Sexual and Domestic Assault Programs, the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and others.

        The following table illustrates the men’s and the women’s program statistics for easy comparison.   

 

 

Women

Men

Length of program at completion of report

6.5 yrs / 1992-98

2 yrs / 1997-98

Total referrals (from justice system or self-referred)

1071

575

Number enrolled

399 (37%)

208 (36%)

Age range

17 – 55 yrs

17 – 65 yrs

Average age

30

28

Age: mode

39

18

Offenses

Fraud,larceny,burglary,property destruction(prostitution: women only)

Drug use patterns: cross addicted/single substance

84% / 16%

78% / 22%

Drugs

Marijuana,alcohol,opiate meds,amphetamines,barbiturates, sedatives (1 man: heroin)

Average length of use

10 yrs

13 yrs

Range of years using

1 – 35

1 – 36

Youngest age at first drug use

7

4

Percentage who began by age 16

30%

55%

No prior formal treatment

56%

68%

Successful/charges dismissed

31%

7%

Arrested for new offense after completion

13%

NA

Opted out of program

4%

8%

Discharged for new offense

42%

21%

Average length in program

NA

17 months

Incarceration days/money saved

19,305/$827,205

15,025/$741,005

Attorney fees saved

$32,601

$35,777

Employment at enrollment

33%

59%

Employment in treatment

90%

85%

Employment or full-time student after completion

100%

100%

 

Jan Taylor

10-4-00