DRUG COURTS: HOW WILL AUTHORITIES RESPOND?

Imagine a village faced with an illness. Community leaders gather to
decide what to do. They suggest various remedies. The mayor swears by
ladybugs ground up and mixed with beer. A young medical doctor, who
recently moved to the village, notes that this particular illness can
be treated with antibiotics.

After a discussion they vote. The ladybug formula wins.

Many of our policies regarding crime seem to be created in this way.
It is democratic, but is it wise?

Admittedly, scientific research rarely provides clear guidance for
social policy. Science seldom tells us precisely what we should do.
In fact, it usually cannot tell us why or how things work or fail to work.

However, science is fairly good at identifying good ideas that do not
work. The reason good ideas fail typically eludes us. But in the long
run, scientific research in criminology increases the odds that our
policies are effective instead of doing damage.

Governments are also more likely to base policy on reports they have
commissioned. Several decades ago the Alberta government asked me to
summarize research on alternative measures, strategies for diverting
young people from the juvenile justice system. Some
alternative-measures programs have been known to increase delinquency.

Having paid for this report, the Alberta officials paid attention to
my presentation. Since then I have offered the same information free
to those with influence. People are not interested in free information.

Once I was invited by an organization of youth court judges in the U.
S. to describe my research on juvenile justice systems in other
countries. They paid me an enormous fee. Perhaps they thought I was a
lawyer. They seemed interested in my findings. Since then I have
offered these ideas to governments at no cost. No takers.

Recently important people have shown an interest in drug courts.
There are many different types of drug courts. Some have major
drawbacks. Others appear to be promising. Will anyone look at the
research? So far it is not conclusive, but some findings suggest
potential pitfalls.

A judge in California organized a drug court which appears to be
promising. He sent me a videotape. A few people have seen it. I
offered it free to influential people and organizations. No takers.
Obviously my strategy is faulty.

Thus, for $500 I will let the attorney general, police chiefs,
mayors, judges, and other prominent people see this video of a
promising drug court. My office phone is: 472-4722. Have your $500 ready.