Explain the concept of a problem-solving court and provide examples of effective problem-
solving courts.
Problem-solving courts are designed to deal with a specific type of offense, including drug abuse
(Worrall, 2019). Its more focus based so has the potential to zone in and focus on its individuality. This
is important because it gives more time for that specific case to be heard in detail. The primary goal is
to reduce repeated offenses and accomplish rehabilitation for the offender. This type of court has
been known to cause a decrease in recidivism rates.
The best example of an effective problem-solving court are drug courts. Drug courts are elusively more
hands on. It is also more engaged in the progress of the offender. At times, we see standard treatment
programs do not really hold the offender accountable. Drug courts are the exact opposite. When the
courts are more involved and on top of things, it talks volumes to the progress of an offender. Things
like slip ups are less likely to happen and if they do, corrective action is taken immediately. Offenders
from the program tend to have better results overall and less recidivism compared to offenders in the
traditional programs (Kaiser & Rhodes, 2019). In the traditional rehabilitation programs, things like
relapse and re-offending are the expected thing to see because of lack of accountability.
References
Kaiser, K. A., & Rhodes, K. (2019). A drug court by any other name? An analysis of problem-solving
court programs.
Law and Human Behavior
,
43
(3), 278–289. https://doi-
org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/lhb0000325
Worrall, J. L. (2019).
Crime control in America: What works?
(4th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall,
ISBN-13: 9780134848181.
