HBSSW Evaluates Milwaukee County Drug Treatment Court
M According to Judge M. Joseph Donald, the Drug Treatment Court’s central figure, this research is essential. “We need that real, empirical data that will elevate the discussion and allow us to get smarter about how we approach addiction and drug use in our community,” he said. 17
ilwaukee County’s new Drug Treatment Court offers treatment to nonviolent offenders with drug problems in an effort to prevent crime and reduce recidivism. This year, the court asked UWM’s Helen Bader School of Social Welfare to provide feedback regarding drug court operations during this period of expansion. Michael Fendrich, director of HBSSW’s Center on Addiction and Behavioral Health Research (CABHR) and William Pelfrey, associate professor of criminal justice, were asked by the Milwaukee County Court and The Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division to evaluate the court’s process and outcomes. Fendrich and the CABHR team understand drug treatment and how to design studies of the court that yield good data; Pelfry, an expert in the criminal justice system, has performed drug court evaluations.