This study is an evaluation of Operation Drug
TEST (ODT), a pretrial intervention program that was implemented in
fiscal year 1997 in 25 of the 94 federal judicial districts in the
United States. The name of the program, "TEST," is both a reference to
testing and an acronym representing the program's three objectives:
(1) Testing to identify drug-involved defendants before their first
court appearance, (2) Effective Sanctions when defendants on release
were found to be using drugs, and (3) Treatment referrals for
drug-using defendants, as needed. The program was based on the view
that drug testing, when closely linked to sanctions and treatment
placements in response to ongoing drug use, can reduce drug use among
defendants on pretrial release. The overall goal of the program was to
deter drug use and its adverse consequences among defendants on
pretrial release. The purposes of the evaluation were to describe the
process of program implementation and to document ODT's impact on
sanctioning and treatment. In particular, the following research
questions were addressed: (1) How many defendants got the initial test
before their release? (2) How many "hidden" users were detected on the
initial test (i.e., defendants for whom there was no other indication
of drug involvement)? (3) How much surveillance testing was done with
defendants on release? (4) Did ODT affect districts' responses to
defendants who tested positive on release? (5) Was there evidence of
change in the likelihood of sanctioning or the types of sanctions
applied? (6) How did ODT affect the districts' use of treatment
placements for defendants who tested positive on release?
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had lead
responsibility for launching ODT. The Administrative Office of the
United States Courts (AOUSC) oversaw program implementation in
participating districts and provided training and technical assistance
in areas such as selection of the drug test technology, recordkeeping,
and reporting. DOJ sent letters inviting participation in ODT to all
94 federal judicial districts. About one-third expressed interest, and
the Judicial Conference and DOJ selected 25 districts. One district
later dropped out. Each district was assured that their participation
in ODT would be compatible with and readily incorporated into pretrial
procedures and policies already in place. Data for this evaluation
were gathered from official records collected from the ODT database,
which was maintained by the AOUSC. Parts 1 and 2 contain data from
fiscal year 1998 for initial drug tests and subsequent drug tests,
respectively. Data from fiscal year 1999 (Parts 3 and 4) were divided
into two groups, depending on the model of ODT implementation. As
originally conceived and approved by the Judicial Conference in June
1996, ODT's operational concept or "program model" was to be the same
in all districts. The initial drug test was to occur at the pre-bail
stage, i.e., before the defendant's first court appearance. Thereafter,
defendants on release would undergo further drug testing. In some
districts, circumstances precluded drug testing before the defendant's
first court appearance. DOJ and AOUSC determined that districts could
choose to implement the program under either of two models. Model 1
(Part 3) followed the original concept, namely, initial testing at the
pre-bail stage. In Model 2 (Part 4), the initial test was to occur as
soon as possible after the defendant's first court appearance, if
he/she was being released, but before release into the community.
Among the 24 participating districts, 18 adopted Model 1 at the outset
and six adopted the alternative, Model 2.
Not applicable.
Drug-involved defendants under pretrial supervision within
one of 24 participating program districts.
Individuals.
administrative records
administrative records data
Variables unique to Part 1 include date of birth,
arrest date, initial hearing date, hearing date, decision date, and
release date. Variables for all parts include the district name, which
circuit and office, which model a defendant conformed to, current or
prior drug charges, and drug history. Additional variables for both
parts include whether the defendant tested positive for amphetamines,
cocaine, cannabis, opiates, PCP, and other drugs, whether testing had
increased, type of test administered, if treatment was added or had
increased, whether a test was taken by pretrial services or by a
contractor, and if by pretrial services, where it was taken, testing
devices used, whether an outside laboratory was used, and if results
were reported to the court.
Not applicable.
None.