An Analysis of California Drug Courts: Why Drug Treatment Programs Should Have Teeth

• Main Author: Tuttle, Kimberly
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholarship @ Claremont 2019
• Subjects: California; Drug courts; Law; Proposition; Legal Studies; Drug Treatment; American Politics; Criminal Law; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Dance; Legal Theory; Political Science
• Online Access: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2124; https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3323&context=cmc_theses

Since the passing of Proposition 47 in California in 2014, drug court programs across the state have invariably undergone changes. In my thesis, I evaluate the drug court programs of three counties in Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Riverside County. Through a qualitative analysis of the drug court programs in these counties, via interviews, data collection, and courtroom observation, I provide insight into the functionality of each county's program, as well as an analysis of the effects of Proposition 47. This paper aims to address the key factors involved in maintaining a functional and successful drug court system.