Drug Testing in a Drug Court Environment: Common Issues …

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Drug Courts Program Office

Drug Courts Program Office

DRUG COURTS RESOURCE SERIES

Drug Testing in a Drug Court Environment:

COMMON ISSUES TO ADDRESS

Prepared by the Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs

810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531

Janet Reno Attorney General

Daniel Marcus Acting Associate Attorney General

Mary Lou Leary Acting Assistant Attorney General

Marilyn McCoy Roberts Director

Drug Courts Program Office

Office of Justice Programs World Wide Web Home Page

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Drug Courts Program Office World Wide Web Home Page

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For grant and funding information contact Department of Justice Response Center

1?800?421?6770

NCJ 181103

This report was prepared by the Office of Justice Programs Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project at American University, Washington, D.C. This project is supported by grant numbers 95?DC?MX?K002 and 98?NU?VX?K018, awarded by the Drug Courts Program Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

OJP Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project American University

Issues Paper Series

Drug Testing in a Drug Court Environment:

COMMON ISSUES TO ADDRESS

Jerome J. Robinson, M.F.S., T.C., S.C., M.T.

Director, District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency Drug Laboratory

James W. Jones, Ph.D., D.A.B.C., D.A.B.F.E.

Deputy Director, District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency Drug Laboratory

May 2000

Cover images ? 2000 PhotoDisc, Inc.

Foreword

Drug testing is a cornerstone of drug court program operations. The functioning of all drug courts relies on the integrity and accuracy of the drug testing process as well as the immediacy with which drug testing services are accessed and the reliability of results obtained. This issues paper has been prepared by the OJP Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project to address the most frequent issues that have been raised by drug court programs regarding drug testing. Although this report is by no means a definitive treatment of all of these issues, it is intended to provide an overview for drug court program officials--primarily lay persons--regarding the most critical topics that need to be addressed in developing and maintaining a drug testing capability. The authors, Jerome Robinson and James Jones, director and deputy director, respectively, of the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency Drug Laboratory, are forensic scientists and have worked for many years with the application of drug testing technologies in a variety of sectors. The results of their experience, research, and training, as they apply to drug testing in a drug court environment, are synthesized in this document. We are grateful for the helpful comments and insights of the following individuals who reviewed this document in draft: John N. Marr of Las Vegas, Nevada, who directs the drug treatment component of most of the Nevada drug courts, including the drug testing conducted by those programs, and Dr. Leo Kadehjian, of Palo Alto, California, a biomedical scientist who oversees the drug testing program for the U.S. Federal court system. Their advice and suggestions have been incorporated throughout the text. Drug testing is a science that requires the guidance and oversight of appropriately trained forensic scientists. We hope that this document will assist drug court officials in working with forensic experts in the design and operation of the drug testing component of their drug court programs.

Caroline S. Cooper, Director OJP Drug Court Clearinghouse and

Technical Assistance Project American University

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