10/11/2016 ExaminingAlternativestoCoerciveSanctionsforDrugLawOffencesandDrugRelatedCrime|RAND

OJCTIVANALYI.
FFCTIVOLUTION.

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xaminingAlternativetoCoercive
anctionforDrugLawOffenceand
Drug-RelatedCrime

ackground

TheActionPlanaccompaningthe
UDrugtrategfor20132016
requirememertatetoprovide,
whereappropriateandinaccordance
withtheirlegalframework,
alternativetocoerciveanction
(uchaeducation,treatment,
rehailitation,aftercareandocial
integration)fordruguingoffender.

Goal

RANDurope,attherequetoftheuropeanCommiionDirectorate-GeneralforMigration
andHomeAffair,oughttomaptheavailailitandueofalternativetocoerciveanction
(AC)acroall28uropeanmemertate.ThetuddefinedACameaureathoethat
couldegiventodruguingoffenderorthoecommittingdrug-relatedcrime,andthathad
omerehailitativeelementorthatcontitutedanon-intervention(e.g.,decidingnotto
chargeorproecute),awellathoeuedinteadofprionorotherpunihment.

Thetudfocuedonthreekearea:

Thelegalituationineachmemertate,theruleandregulationonAC;
Howuchalternativeareactuallapplied/implementedinpracticeineachmemer
tate;
Whatiknownaouttheeffectiveneoftheueoftheealternativeineachmemer
tateandinternationall,includingtheirimpactonreoffendingandtheircot-
effectivene.
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/research/projects/coercivesanctionsalternativesfordrugcrimes.html 1/3
10/11/2016 ExaminingAlternativestoCoerciveSanctionsforDrugLawOffencesandDrugRelatedCrime|RAND

Methodolog

Informationforthetudwaprimarilgatheredthroughadetailedquetionnairecompleted
expertineachmemertateandareviewofinternationalreearchevidence.

Finding

Thereearchfoundthat:

AllmemertatereportedtheavailailitofatleatoneACfordrug-uingoffender,
andmothadmorethanone.
ThirteencategorieortpeofACwerereportedmemertateexpert.Thetwo
motcommonlavailaleACweredrugtreatment(i.e.atreatmentorder)and
upenionofentence(withatreatmentoption).
Wheredetailwerereportedontpeofdrugtreatment,thereappearedtoeawide
rangeoftreatmentavailaletooffender,whichwereinalmotallcaequai-
compulor(i.e.individualareprovidedwithachoiceetweentreatmentanda
punitiveoutcomeuchaincarceration).
FormotoftheACincludedinthetud,theoffendercouldeproecutedforthe
originaloffenceand/orreachwhennotcomplingwiththeAC.Thiconfirmthe
quai-compulornatureofACacrotheU.
ACappearedtoemainlofferedattheendtageofthecriminaljuticetem.The
courtandentencingtagewerethemotcommonpointatwhichACcoulde
impoed,andinlinewiththi,ACweremainlofferedjudgeandproecutor.
ThereappeartoecommonarriertotheueofACinpracticeacromemertate.
Theeincludefactorrelatingtodeciion-makereliefandpracticeand
adminitrative,legilativeandcontextualfactor.
ThereiomeevidencethatACcanreducereoffendinganddrugue,uttheevidence
aetoupportordiprovetheireffectiveneandcoteffectiveneiweak.Overall,
theevidencecanecharacteriedapromiing,utequivocal.
ThereiadevelopingodofevidenceaoutfeaturethatmightmakeACmore
effective.TheeincludeenuringACaretargetedatindividualneedandrikfactorof
offenderandtakingteptoretainindividualintreatmentprogramme.Thereino
concluiveevidenceatotheeffectiveneofcompulororquai-compulor
treatment,comparedtovoluntartreatment.
Thereineedtoimprovethequalitofmonitoringdatacollectedmemertate
aoutACandtoconductgood-qualitreearchtodevelopthecurrentllimited
evidenceaeatotheeffectiveneofAC.
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/research/projects/coercivesanctionsalternativesfordrugcrimes.html 2/3
10/11/2016 ExaminingAlternativestoCoerciveSanctionsforDrugLawOffencesandDrugRelatedCrime|RAND

ProjectTeam

mmaDile,ProjectManager
Alexutherland
KritKruithof
MatthewDavie
KeiIto
Luctrang
ProfeorAlexteven,UniveritofKent

RANDuropei
IO9001:2008
UROP certified
RANDuropeiauidiaroftheRANDCorporation.RANDiaregiteredtrademark.Copright1994-2016RANDCorporation.

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