The Institute is performing a multi-year evaluation of Ontario County’s Enhanced Drug Court Initiative. A joint undertaking between the Public Defender’s office and the District Attorney’s office, and supported by Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes, the Ontario County Sheriff, and Probation, the enhanced Drug Court will provide access to wrap-around social, educational, employment, and treatment services to defendants who are screened into the Court, and will increase the caseload capacity so that judges can direct more clients to the Court. The expansion of the Drug Court’s work is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The project aims not only to increase the number of clients who can be served through this program, but also to improve the graduation rate, and to reduce overdose and rearrest rates, of the court’s clientele. The Institute’s evaluation will document baseline levels of service provision, and will provide continuous data on program enrollment, client progress, access to services, and graduation and post-graduation engagement with Drug Court service providers and alumni.
Funded by Ontario County’s grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) [June, 2019 – September, 2023]