Characteristics and Criminal Histories of Adult Offenders Admitted to Treatment under Washington State’s Criminal Justice Treatment Account

This is the first in a series of reports prepared for the DSHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery to help evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment funded by the state’s Criminal Justice Treatment Account. This account pays for chemical dependency treatment for criminal offenders who are chemically dependent or have a substance abuse problem that could lead to addiction if left untreated. The intent is to reduce recidivism and increase the likelihood that defendants and offenders will become productive and law-abiding persons. We compare key demographic, criminal history, and geographic differences between two groups of offenders whose treatment is funded through the account: 1) those involved with formally established drug courts, and 2) those charged through non-drug court programs in either Superior Courts or Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. We found that 39 percent of offenders entering treatment were from a drug court program. One in three offenders in both programs was a young adult (age 18 to 25). Felonies were the most serious charge for 94 percent of drug court offenders and 19 percent of non-drug court offenders. Felony drug offenses were the most serious charge for 65 percent of those from drug courts. The most serious charge for half of non-drug court offenders was a traffic-related offense with 36 percent charged with driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated. Drug court offenders had more arrests and convictions in the prior ten years than those from non-drug court programs. And drug-court felons entered treatment sooner than other offenders.