Why Do Specialty Courts Reduce Recidivism?

In summary, the current knowledge of recidivism rates appear to demonstrate that specialty courts provide reduced temporary recidivism rates for up to three years after a client graduates. Also, researchers have explored the various predictors that may impact the chance of success while in the program and predictors that will affect recidivism rates post graduation. There is no single determinative predictor indicating which clients will succeed or not. Further, it appears that researchers credit specialty courts for reduced recidivism rates when in fact recidivism may not be a true measure of success. Recidivism is only based on individuals caught for committing crimes or individuals admitting drug use.
Notwithstanding an individual’s ability to elude the criminal justice system, the presumption remains that specialty court reduces recidivism. Researchers have not found a precise method to measure post graduation recidivism, but they have found a reliable and valid method. The best methods researchers use to obtain arrests records for post-graduates are national or local criminal databases and …show more content…
Being able to provide precise data as to the specific goal will only strengthen the need for specialty court. Legislatures will want to know both sides of the research, but when a representative begins pushing his or her agenda, he or she will be able to confidently say specialty courts reduce recidivism. It is essential for representatives and legislatures to know the exact purpose and goal of specialty court so they can make policy arguments for or against specialty court. Hence, providing accurate data to representatives includes accepting only measuring post graduation arrests and costs analysis as indicators of