DTTOs - The Final Evaluation
| Date | 01 December 2000 |
| Published date | 01 December 2000 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050004700417 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
House, Margery Street, London
selection and training of staff, and
WCIX
0JL. Tel: 020 7841 4415, £5.95.
team-building activities.
.
Many referrals were inappropriate and
the
DTTOs - The Final
two-stage assessment process (initial
screening and formal assessment) lacked
Evaluation
rigour; over 40% of those assessed were
not put forward for a DTTO, suggesting
the need for clear and
This Home Office study concludes that
tight criteria to filter
out
drug-using offenders
inappropriate cases.
can successfully be
coerced into treatment via drug treatment
.
Expecting drug users to move
and testing orders (DTTOs), despite many
towards abstinence very soon after starting
shortcomings in implementation in the
the DTTO, as was the case in one area,
three pilot areas of Liverpool, Croydon
was considered unrealistic and out of line
and Gloucester. Given that the study was
with research evidence. The latter suggests
completed only after the national
that it takes at least three months to
roll-out of DTTOs, this will come as a
engage successfully with this client group.
considerable relief to many people.
.
There was also great inconsistency in
Impact on Offenders - Self report data
warning and breach procedures in different
from 137 offenders showed that the
areas. For example, Gloucester revoked
average weekly expenditure on drugs fell
60% of orders to Liverpool’s 28%. The
from £400 in the four weeks before arrest
authors argue that applying revised
to £25 in the first 4-6 weeks of the order.
National Standards 2000 to DTTOs in
The participants typically stopped using
unamended form would be ineffective,
crack and amphetamines, but continued to
because the already high likelihood of
use lower levels of opiates. Their rate of
relapse for dependent drug users is
offending also dropped substantially and
heightened by the intensive nature of the
six month follow-up interviews (with a
DTTO. Although consistent reporting
total of 48 offenders) suggested that
...
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