A Strategic Collaboration of Law & Science for a Healthy & Therefore Safe Community

Abstract

Criminology (the study of crime and criminals), has devoted significant scientific research to community courts and their delayed and alternative adjudication programs, which are commonly known as drug courts. High performance-oriented courts are striving to integrate rigorous scientific methodology with the current laws, socio-economic context and judicial culture through effective and efficient drug courts. This study analyzes pre and post-performance data from 2 high-functioning drug courts in the Nevada communities of Las Vegas and Reno; identifying relationships between best-practice-adherent drug courts and reduced incarceration rates. Incarceration, due to its collaterally intrusive, costly and stigmatizing effects, is the focus of this study, which follows high-risk/low-functioning populations and concludes with the cost-effectiveness of science-based drug courts.