Over a Decade Later: A Quasi-Experimental Study of North Dakota’s Juvenile Drug Courts

Abstract

Little is known about the long-term impact of juvenile drug court on recidivism. This study compares the adult recidivism rates among prior juvenile drug court participants against a comparison group of probated, but not drug courted juveniles. The study employed a twelve-year average follow up subsequent to participants in both groups reaching the age of majority (18). Outcomes examined included arrests, convictions, and both substance and violent convictions in adulthood. Logistic and linear regression models indicated no main effects of drug court into adulthood. However, gender appeared to be suppressing the effect of drug court on recidivism. Interaction terms indicated a vicious interaction with males in the drug court having slightly higher recidivism rates than comparison males and female drug court participants recording lower recidivism rates than comparison females. Some recommendations are made as far as modifying juvenile drug court based on these results.