RT Article
T1 A Theoretical Model of Drug/DUI Courts: An Application of Structural Ritualization Theory
JF American journal of criminal justice
VO 41
IS 1
SP 31
OP 46
A1 Bin Liang 1784-1847
A1 David Knottnerus, J.
A1 Long, Michael A.
A2 David Knottnerus, J.
A2 Long, Michael A.
LA English
YR 2016
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1764274148
AB Past studies of Drug/DUI courts primarily focused on outcome evaluation and policy-driven issues, but lacked an effective theoretical framework for understanding drug court programs, in particular the interaction between the program and clients. In this study, we apply structural ritualization theory (SRT) to the Drug/DUI program and argue that such programs serve two key functions, to disrupt clients’ old rituals (e.g., drug/alcohol abuse, committing crimes), and to help lay a foundation for building new abstinent and noncriminal ritualized practices for clients both in and after the drug court program. We further argue that the effectiveness of drug program functions and services at the organizational level and the success of clients’ transformation at the individual level can be empirically measured and studied by four elements of SRT, including salience, repetitiveness, homologousness, and resources. Policy implications are drawn based on the contribution of SRT.
K1 SRT
K1 Theoretical model
K1 DUI/drug program
DO 10.1007/s12103-015-9331-5