The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court) pilot is designed to supervise offenders whose offending is driven by their alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependency, by providing judicial oversight of their engagement with treatment programmes and rehabilitation support services before they are sentenced. The desired outcomes of the AODT Court pilot are to: reduce reoffending and imprisonment; reduce drug and alcohol consumption and dependency; positively impact on health and wellbeing; and be cost-effective.
The Ministry of Justice commissioned this formative evaluation of the AODT Court pilot in the Auckland and Waitakere District Courts one year after its commencement in November 2012. The formative evaluation has drawn on observations, interviews with stakeholders and participants in both courts, and administrative data related to the pilot. Litmus Limited will also carry out a process evaluation and a cost-effectiveness study (by Sapere Research Group) over the next four years.