Evaluation of Adult Urine Testing/Drug Use Surveillance Project in Washington, DC, 1984-1986
Description
These data were gathered to assess whether drug users are
greater risks than nonusers for rearrest or failure to appear for
scheduled court appearances while on pretrial release. The data also
evaluate the relative effectiveness of periodic surveillance through
urinalysis, traditional narcotic treatment, or neither in reducing
rearrest and failure to appear during the pretrial period. The
collection provides information on arrestees who both tested positive
for drugs and were released on recognizance as well as those arrestees
who tested negative but were not released on recognizance. Drugs
tested for include heroin, cocaine, PCP, methadone, and
amphetamines. Arrestees who were released were randomly assigned to
one of three groups: weekly urine testing, referral to drug treatment,
or a control condition. The data offer information on the offender's
background, family and employment status, probation and parole status,
pending charges, and prior convictions. Other variables include date
of arrest, charge, initial release, decision, date of disposition,
type of final disposition, number of subsequent arrests before trial,
and number of bench warrants issued. Results of urine tests at arrest
are available for about 65 percent of the total sample. For those in
the experimental surveillance group, summary urine test results from
the periodic testing program are available. There is no measure of
treatment for the drug treatment or control groups.