Monitoring and Evaluation of Drug Treatment Courts and other Alternatives to Incarceration Models

Data

Status

Active

Start

2018

Implementation

Social Networks

Threads: @CICAD_OEA

Through this initiative, ES-CICAD seeks to support OAS member states in establishing or strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms for their Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) and other alternative to incarceration (ATI) programs, incorporating a human rights-based approach and a gender perspective.

ATI programs enable justice-involved individuals who have an underlying substance use disorder driving their criminal conduct to have access to treatment and rehabilitation options, and other alternative processes under judicial supervision. Empirical research has shown that, when implemented according to evidence-based standards, some ATI models such as DTCs are among the most effective criminal justice interventions, leading to lower recidivism, improved health and social integration outcomes, and reduced costs to the state.

Having strong monitoring and evaluation systems allows ATI programs to ensure that they can improve their operational processes, measure their outcomes and, ultimately, bring the desired benefits to users and to society. It also fosters learning and contributes to accountability.

ES-CICAD’s support for member states in this area includes training personnel, building tools, disseminating best practices, and providing tailored technical assistance.

Objectives

Strengthen mechanisms to monitor and evaluate alternative measures to incarceration for minor or non-violent drug-related offenses, in collaboration with academic and research institutions, as well as civil society, incorporating a human rights-based approach and a gender perspective.
Raise awareness regarding the potential benefits of DTC programs and other evidence-based ATI models among OAS member states that have expressed interest in these models.

Activities

Conduct diagnostic analyses of gaps and resources for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of Drug Treatment Court (DTC) and other alternative to incarceration (ATI) models.
Deliver training in the M&E of DTC and other ATI models.
Conduct sensitization on evidence-based DTC and ATI practices.
Provide technical assistance for the establishment or strengthening of M&E systems for DTC programs and other ATI models.
Develop and disseminate methodologies, tools and indicators for the M&E of DTC and other ATI models.
Support the process, outcome, and cost evaluations of DTC programs and other ATI models.

More Results

Results

Over 100 criminal justice, health and social services operators and representatives of academia trained on DTC M&E.

Process evaluations of DTC programs completed in seven OAS member states.

DTC M&E systems strengthened in ten member states.

Manual for Scientific Monitoring and Evaluation: Drug Treatment Courts in the Americas developed and disseminated worldwide.

Set of ATI indicators developed for use across the region.

Beneficiary Countries