Integrating the Ion Mobility Spectrometer Into Drug Monitoring at the New Orleans Pretrial Diversion Program, 1996
Description
This project was designed to evaluate the use of a drug
detection instrument, the ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), and to
integrate its use into an ongoing pretrial diversion program for
nonviolent, first-time, drug-abusing offenders. The Pretrial
Diversion Program in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, targeted offenders
with limited arrest histories of nonviolent felony or misdemeanor
violations. The majority of eligible participants were violators of
simple drug possession statutes, primarily crack/cocaine or
marijuana. Persons charged with drug distribution offenses were not
eligible. In order to qualify for diversion, persons had to admit
guilt regarding the acts for which they were arrested. The program
was entirely voluntary. One of the unique aspects of this program
was its aggressive use of drug testing, including urinalysis and hair
analysis. This project evaluated the ability of the IMS to provide
complete drug profile information to supervising agencies and
assessed its usefulness to field staff engaged in drug monitoring
duties. The project was based on the premise that enhanced
information on offenders diverted into this program could create or
improve several key aspects of program operation, such as client
assessment, monitoring of compliance and progress, dispositional
decision-making, client motivation, and staff morale. The study was
designed to integrate the IMS into the normal operation of the New
Orleans Pretrial Diversion Program with as little modification of
existing treatment and supervision protocols as possible. Each client
in the diversion program underwent an intensive intake assessment
including an intake radioimmunoassay (RIA) hair assay and an
additional RIA hair assay every 60 days. Each client was urine-tested
at intake and assigned to a random test pool. The modified protocol
for the project added an IMS-based scan or a hair specimen, skin
wipe, and ten-second vacuum scan of clothing, hands, and axillae at
intake. At each subsequent visit each client had a repeat IMS scan
utilizing a skin swab and a scan of clothing or body area. Variables
include self-reported cocaine use, self-reported marijuana use, IMS
date, urinalysis date, hair assay results, urinalysis results, IMS
detection, nicotine use, maximum amplitude, delta, cumulative
amplitude, number of detections, whether the IMS showed a positive
result, and the age, sex, and race of the client.
Resources
| Name |
Format |
Description |
Link |
|
0 |
ICPSR03213.v1 |
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03213.v1 |
Tags
- program-evaluation
- urinalysis
- drug-testing
- misdemeanor-offenses
- pretrial-intervention
- pretrial-procedures
- diversion-programs
- drug-abuse
- felony-offenses
- criminal-histories
- drug-offender-profiles
- offenders