| The drug court movement, which began in Miami in 1989, has grown, changed and spread to over 200 American jurisdictions as well as being adopted by a number of foreign countries. While some published literature describing the growth, implementation and impact of drug courts is beginning to appear, few of these studies have closely examined the impact of the drug court approach on the neighborhoods they serve. This paper presents findings from an NIJ-funded retrospective evaluation of two of the earliest and longest-lived drug courts in Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas, Nevada. The analyses demonstrate how drug courts serve principal neighborhood areas within the cities and focus on the contextual implications of the drug court approach upon these neighborhoods. Inferences are drawn concerning the potential impact of drug courts as related to implementation issues that may be related to effectiveness in both reducing crime and improving the quality of life for the residents of these neighborhoods. |
Updated 05/20/2006