Research and Publications

Publications

1. California Drug Courts: A Methodology for Determining Costs and Avoided Costs (05/23/2006)

Research Summary: California Drug Court Cost Analysis Study

Phase I: Building the Methodology

Phase II: Testing the Methodology Final Report
 

The study found that

• Drug court participants had significantly lower rates of recidivism than the comparison group (29% vs. 41%). Graduates of the drug court program had even lower rates of recidivism (17%).
• The nine drug courts showed savings ranging from $3,200 to $20,000 per participant.
• The study showed over $9 million in savings for the state for a group of 900 participants.

2. California’s Collaborative Justice Courts: Building a Problem-Solving Judiciary
This study describes the development of the various collaborative courts in California since their inception in the 1980’s.

These studies describe joint projects with the Center for Court Innovation in New York. The studies focus on the transferability of collaborative justice practices.

Center for Court Innovation: Collaborative Justice in Conventional Courts: Opportunities and Barriers

Center for Court Innovation: Collaborative Justice in Conventional Courts: Stakeholder Perspectives in California

About Juvenile Collaborative Court Models

This series of briefings provides an introduction to juvenile collaborative courts, including what types of courts exist, how they work, and how they can be replicated, as well as an overview of various juvenile collaborative court models, information about starting a juvenile collaborative court model, and potential impacts of new laws on juvenile collaborative courts.

Introduction

Juvenile Drug Courts

Juvenile Mental Health Courts

Girls’ or CSEC Courts

• An Evaluation of the Succeeding Through Achievement and Resilience (STAR) Court (2021)
  This report details the results of a comprehensive evaluation of the Los Angeles Succeeding Through Achievement and Resilience (STAR) Court, created for those who are at risk of or have been commercially sexually exploited. This report covers an overview of the STAR Court, the mixed methods used in the evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative results. The results suggest that the STAR Court is a promising model that could be successful for youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation in other jurisdictions.
• Research Update: STAR Court Study: Initial Results

Youth Courts

How to Start a Juvenile Collaborative Court