An Exploratory Study Examining Differences in Drug Court Graduation Rates for Black and White Women

• DOI: 10.1177/00938548211022389
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Anne Dannerbeck,Mansoo Yu
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2021, Vol. 48, No. 12, December 2021, 1827 –1841.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211022389

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© 2021 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

1827

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY EXAMINING

DIFFERENCES IN DRUG COURT GRADUATION

RATES FOR BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN

ANNE DANNERBECK

MANSOO YU

University of Missouri

This exploratory study examined factors potentially associated with graduation for White and Black female Drug Treatment

Court participants. Multiple logistic regression models for predicting program graduation were employed using an adminis-

trative data set (N = 1,093). Race was significant in a combined model. Age, prior felonies, employment, and negative peer

associations predicted graduation for White women, whereas negative peer associations was the only predictor of graduation

for Black women. Consideration of other factors that are not typically collected through administrative screenings is needed

to better understand the strains typically experienced by Black women in Drug Treatment Court.

Keywords: women offenders; criminogenic needs; substance use disorders; offender treatment; race

INTRODUCTION

Black women are the demographic group with the highest incarceration rate for drug

offenses (Scott et al., 2011). They have a higher rate of illicit drug use than the national

average (6.2% vs. 5.7%) and the rate has been increasing (National Household Survey on

Drug Use and Health, 2010). Despite their status in the justice system, researchers have

largely overlooked them in research on crime and substance use (Link & Oser, 2018;

Piquero & Sealock, 2010), and particularly research pertaining to diversion programs, espe-

cially Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs; Brewer & Heitzeg, 2008). A review of research and

statistical reports pertaining to DTC outcomes yielded no outcome information for Black

women. They are either included in statistics for all Black individuals or for all women.

They are a unique group in no small part because of the potential stressors of gender, class,

AUTHORS’ NOTE: The authors wish to thank staff at the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator for

preparing the data file used in this study. Anne Dannerbeck is now a private consultant. The authors report no

conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper. Correspondence

concerning this article should be addressed to Anne Dannerbeck, School of Social Work, University of

Missouri, 720 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211; e-mail: dannerbecka@gmail.com.

1022389CJBXXX10.1177/00938548211022389Criminal Justice and BehaviorDannerbeck, Yu / Drug Court Outcomes for Black and White Women

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