Drug Control and the Courts

Illegal drug use in the United States is increasing among criminal offenders at an alarming rate. As communities struggle to cope due to a lack of effective drug control programmes, some urban studies have suggested that the offender population is virtually filled by cocaine users - a drug which has been linked with violent behaviour.

Drug Control and the Courts is a welcome contribution to this crucial issue. The authors skillfully examine the history, development and current status of drug control programmes as they have impacted on the criminal justice system. They examine current trends - such as a growing awareness that incarceration alone has proved to be an inadequate solution - which suggest a strong need to

Prisons are bursting at the seams, filled with drug-abusing criminal offenders as a result of the continuing "war on drugs." Yet rates of drug use among these offenders continue to skyrocket, showing that incarceration alone proves an inadequate solution. Faced with a drug crisis, what options do the courts have to deal with this problem population? Offering a unique perspective, Drug Control and the Courts skillfully examines the history, development, and current status of drug control programs and the criminal justice system. This cutting-edge volume identifies notable trends--such as the growing need for HIV and AIDS screening among offenders and the documented success of compulsory and coerced drug treatment programs--that can strongly influence criminal justice procedures for dealing with drug-involved offenders. Authors James A. Inciardi, Duane C. McBride, and James E. Rivers critically examine successful programs and push for expanding the coordinated efforts of the courts and drug abuse treatment services. Featuring the combined expertise of the authors, the analysis in Drug Control and the Courts will be of interest to students in criminology, criminal justice, and sociology as well as researchers, practitioners, academics, and policymakers.