A Theoretical Model of Drug/DUI Courts: An Application of Structural Ritualization Theory

Abstract

Past studies of Drug/DUI courts primarily focused on outcome evaluation and policy-driven issues, but lacked an effective theoretical framework for understanding drug court programs, in particular the interaction between the program and clients. In this study, we apply structural ritualization theory (SRT) to the Drug/DUI program and argue that such programs serve two key functions, to disrupt clients' old rituals (e.g., drug/alcohol abuse, committing crimes), and to help lay a foundation for building new abstinent and noncriminal ritualized practices for clients both in and after the drug court program. We further argue that the effectiveness of drug program functions and services at the organizational level and the success of clients' transformation at the individual level can be empirically measured and studied by four elements of SRT, including salience, repetitiveness, homologousness, and resources. Policy implications are drawn based on the contribution of SRT.

Substance use, victimization, HIV/AIDS risk, and recidivism among females in a therapeutic justice program

“…To address the problem of drug-related incarceration, therapeutic justice interventions like drug courts have emerged and are increasing in popularity (Konecky et al, 2016; Festinger, Dugosh, Kurth, & Metzger, 2016; Morse, Silverstein, Thomas, Bedel, & Cerulli, 2015; Liang, Knottnerus, & Long, 2016). Drug courts incorporate community-based substance use treatment services, along with social services to achieve sobriety and improve the social and economic well-being of participants (Festinger et al, 2016; Morse et al, 2015).…”

“…Drug courts incorporate community-based substance use treatment services, along with social services to achieve sobriety and improve the social and economic well-being of participants (Festinger et al, 2016; Morse et al, 2015). In a drug court model, non-compliant participants are sanctioned with monitoring systems, short-term incarceration, and other legal consequences, while compliant participants are given incentives to elicit behavior change and compliance (Liang et al, 2016; Mitchell, Wilson, Eggers, & MacKenzie, 2012; Morse et al, 2015).…”

What Do Clients Achieve in Drug/DUI Court? Examining Intended and Unintended Outcomes

“…How to help clients maintain an effective structure when the official supervision/discipline is no longer present could be critical to one's long-lasting abstinence. For instance, as Liang, Knottnerus, and Long (2016) argued, in a post-program life, former clients should be encouraged to develop new routinized/ritualized practices such as going to work/school, building meaningful positive relations with others, and becoming actively involved in larger communities (e.g., neighborhood, church, civic groups) in order to maintain a structured routine. This is critical for them to stay abstinent and law-abiding.…”

How’d You Do It? Applying Structural Ritualization Theory to Drug Treatment Courts

“…As noted by DeVall, Gregory, and Hartmann (2012), “This use of theory in empirical assessment of drug court clearly has the potential to provide insight into how drug court programs operate and can be highly suggestive as to why they elicit the results they do” (p. 324). To date, only eight studies (of which we are aware) have incorporated social science theories into their examination of DTCs (DeVall et al, 2012; Gilmore, Rodriguez, & Webb, 2005; Liang, Knottnerus, & Long, 2016; Marlowe, Festinger, Foltz, Lee, & Patapis, 2005; May, 2008; Meithe, Lu, & Reese, 2000; Narag et al, 2013; Wolfer & Roberts, 2008). 1 Reintegrative shaming has been used to explain DTC findings by several researchers (Meithe, Lu, & Reese, 2000; Narag et al, 2013; Wolfer & Roberts, 2008).…”

“…Containment theory was adopted by Wolfer and Roberts (2008), whereas Gilmore et al (2005) used social bond theory to explain their findings. Most recently, Liang and Knottnerus et al (2016) applied structural ritualization theory (SRT) to a drug/DWI court. In addition to aforementioned social science theories, the principles of restorative justice have been identified as key elements of the DTC model (Fulkerson, 2009; O’Hear, 2009).…”